A SENIOR Labour MP sparked fury yesterday after suggesting Britain should allow tens of thousands of migrants to be given permanent residency so they can claim benefits.
Dame Emily Thornberry triggered backlash among her own colleagues for arguing against immigration reforms that would prolong the period before someone is eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
She insisted that Sir Keir Starmer should “think again” about his plans because they would stop 90,000 foreign children receiving taxpayer funded handouts.
Hitting back at the plea, Labour MP for North Durham, Luke Akehurst, told The Sun: “Controlling immigration remains the main issue raised with me by my constituents in North Durham.
“Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood‘s common-sense reforms are important measures to reduce the pull factors that make the UK more attractive to migrants than other comparable countries.
“With our public finances under strain we cannot afford to award the welfare rights accorded by Indefinite Leave to Remain to millions of people who migrated here.”
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho blasted: “Name a single country where foreign citizens can access full benefits without being a permanent resident or citizen. There isn’t one.
“It would undermine a fundamental principle: if you join a society you should contribute to it.”
Shabana Mahmood launched the first of her new immigration reforms — cutting temporary refugee protection from five years to 30 months.
The Home Secretary said adults and accompanied kids will have to go home once their country is deemed safe.
She has previously said: “The reset in Britain’s asylum offer, inspired by Denmark’s success, will encourage those wishing to build a life in the UK to do so via legal routes and reduce the pull factors driving illegal migration.”
