Asylum Policy

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and Lewis Cocking

Monday 17th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Shabana Mahmood]

The totality of the reforms will, we believe, lead to less pressure on accommodation, so I think the short answer to my hon. Friend’s question on HMOs is yes. I recognise the problems he notes, because HMOs are a big problem in my constituency too.

[Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne) (Con)]

I really do thank the Home Secretary for her statement. This is a tiny step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough. To truly show that the Home Secretary is listening to the British people, does she agree with me that if you enter this country illegally, you should never be allowed to stay?

[Shabana Mahmood]

We will always abide by our obligations under the refugee convention and we do believe in offering sanctuary, but we make no apology for the fact that those who enter illegally by crossing the channel will have a longer path to settlement. We are deliberately incentivising other safe and legal routes into the country to show that that is the proper way to seek sanctuary in this country—rather than paying criminals a lot of money and put lives at risk.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and Lewis Cocking

Tuesday 11th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne) (Con)]

T7.   The Government say that foreign national offenders make up 12% of the prison population. Can the Secretary of State tell me when that number will be zero?

[Shabana Mahmood]

What I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that this Government have made faster progress than the previous Government on the deportation of foreign national offenders from our prisons, with numbers that are over 20% higher than the same time last year, and we will keep moving forward.