by Our News Desk

DESPERATE families seeking a better life in Britain face being cut off from the one thread of support offered by the government under “morally reprehensible” Tory plans to abolish asylum support.

The Refugee Council raised “grave concerns” yesterday about the idea of abolishing asylum support for families whose claims have been refused by the Home Office.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said he wanted to send the message that “Britain is not a soft touch on asylum.”

Ten thousand people who fear for their lives in their home countries but have had asylum claims rejected by the Home Office would be forced even deeper into destitution.

Currently individuals whose claims are refused lose the meagre support fund while they appeal, but families can keep hold of accommodation and a brutally basic £36 a week allowance — but can’t work or claim benefits.

“We have grave concerns about the government’s proposals to remove support from some of the most vulnerable families in Britain, many of whom fear there is real risk of serious harm or persecution to them and their children if returned to their countries of origin,” warned Refugee Council head of advocacy Lisa Doyle.

“The government frequently gets life and death decisions on asylum claims wrong as nearly 30 per cent of appeals are successful.

“This harsh proposal seems to be based on the flawed logic that making families destitute will coerce them into going home.

The government has a duty to protect all children in this country and previous governments have recognised it is morally reprehensible to take support away from families with children.”