What asylum seekers are actually entitled to immediately after entering the UK

Reform UK has opened up a fresh row over the entitlements of asylum seekers after accusing Vodafone of supplying free SIM cards to migrants who cross the Channel on small boats.

The party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, has said he wrote to the Vodafone board, accusing the British telecom giant of “facilitating the invasion of Britain” and threatening the company’s leadership with jail time under a future Reform government, after learning it issues free SIMs to charities supporting migrants.

The company is reported to have supplied refugee charity Care4Calais with more than 2,000 SIMs, according to the charity’s annual accounts. The charity also provides refugees clothing and hygiene products alongside informal peer support and social activities.

Vodafone has defended the initiative after Reform’s criticism, saying it works with registered charities helping the most vulnerable.

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