Labour vows to overhaul 'chaotic' asylum system that leaves refugees sleeping on Manchester's streets

Labour has vowed to reform the 'chaotic' and 'broken' asylum system that has left refugees sleeping rough on the streets of Greater Manchester. Rough sleeping has been rising in recent months with many of those on the streets having recently been granted asylum.

It comes as the government attempts to clear the backlog of asylum claims. Once an asylum claim is approved - which is the outcome in most cases - refugees have just a few weeks to find housing before they are kicked out their government-funded accommodation.

Local councils are responsible for housing people who have been living in their area once they are granted asylum. But in Manchester, many of those seeking council accommodation have been coming from all over the country in the hope of being housed in the city.

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Earlier this year, Manchester council said it was struggling to cope with the demand driven by an influx of rough sleepers recently granted refugee status. Salford council also declared a 'homelessness crisis' after people started camping outside its headquarters.

Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the asylum system needs reform 'from beginning to end'. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in Leigh on Thursday (May 17), she said Labour would work with councils to fix the 'chaotic' system.

Her comments follow Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to set up a new 'border security command' to bring down gangs arranging small boat crossings to the UK. The Labour Party has also previously promised to clear the backlog of asylum claims.

The Home Office has said its plan is working with the Prime Minister's pledge to clear the 'legacy' backlog of asylum cases and 150 hotels which had been used to house asylum seekers now returned to local communities. The government has previously said it is working with local authorities to manage the impact of asylum decisions - but Manchester council has said that it still needs help.

According to the town hall, the flow of new refugees sleeping rough in Manchester has reduced slightly this month, but there have still been 30 individuals sleeping on the streets so far in May. It comes after 54 refugees were identified as sleeping rough in April.

The M.E.N. asked Labour's shadow home secretary how the party will make sure refugees do not end up sleeping on the streets once their asylum claim is approved, putting more pressure on councils already facing a homelessness crisis. She said: "I think part of the problem is that the Conservatives have just completely broken our asylum system and they've lost control of our border security.

"So as a result the whole system is in chaos and that's why we need reforms from beginning to end."

She added: "The problem is, even when the Conservatives have been trying to clear the backlog, they haven't actually worked with local councils. They haven't had any plan in place to make sure that there's proper systems, not just to make sure that you don't end up with chaos and the homelessness and the problems for local councils, but also to make sure that people who don't have any right to be here are also being returned.

"So really, every bit of the system isn't working and that's why what we need is a proper plan. Instead of the gimmicks, actually just getting a grip of the system and having those proper partnerships working in place."

Ms Cooper said that Labour would put 'proper early planning' in place to prevent the 'chaos' that has left councils struggling to house refugees. She blamed the rise in refugees sleeping rough in Greater Manchester on the lack of 'early planning' in the asylum system.

The Labour frontbencher added: "Look, you're right that actually as we go into a general election, what we would inherit from the Conservatives is a really chaotic and broken system. But that's why I think we've got to have a proper plan to get a grip on it."

Manchester council's deputy leader Joanna Midgley said: "We have been calling for reform of the asylum system which has left many refugees, through no fault of their own, facing homelessness and has left cities such as Manchester having to pick up the bill for Government failure.

"We welcome this recognition of the urgent need for reform and will continue to press for more funding and resources to help us address the situation. Manchester is a welcoming city but we can't be expected to take disproportionate responsibility for tackling a national crisis."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Our plan is working. Not only have we met the Prime Minister’s pledge to clear the legacy backlog of asylum cases, we have also returned 150 hotels to local communities through close collaboration, ultimately reducing costs on the taxpayer.

"We are also returning those with no right to remain in the UK by getting flights off the ground to Rwanda in July, thanks to our landmark legislation."