Plans announced by the United Kingdom's Home Office to make people granted asylum in the country pay back around 10,000 pounds ($13,233) toward their costs once they start earning have drawn an angry backlash.
The measures are part of the new Immigration and Asylum Bill, and will require those given permission to stay to repay costs before they become eligible for permanent settlement.
Last year, around 4 billion pounds was spent on supporting asylum seekers and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the changes show that "asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility … once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so".
The announcement comes at a time when British politics is in limbo, between Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation as prime minister last week, and the likely appointment of his successor Andy Burnham, who may wish to make his own appointments to senior roles such as home secretary if he assumes the top job.
No costings have been revealed for how and when repayments will start to be taken, but Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at The Refugee Council, said the plan was "unfair and impractical" toward "people who are at risk of being destitute", and would make it "harder for families to rebuild their lives and stand on their own feet".
