Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh tensions within the Labour Party over his crackdown on asylum claims, with one backbencher urging the Prime Minister to "think again".
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil a series of proposals in the House of Commons today, inspired by a strict approach taken by Denmark.
The plans include banning three African countries from accessing UK visas if they fail to take back illegal migrants.
Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, warned the planned overhaul risks fostering "divisiveness" in communities.
He wrote to X: "The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
"We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to grant asylum, we should welcome and integrate, not create perpetual limbo and alienation.
"The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.
"The Government is wrong to think that reviews of safety in the person's country every few years will mean refugees can be returned at scale. That hasn't happened in Denmark."
In response to his post, fellow Labour MP John McDonnell commented: "Tony Vaughan is one of the new MPs elected for Labour last year and in his contributions to Commons debates has displayed a considered approach to issues.
"He’s certainly not what the media would call a 'usual suspect.' I suspect he is reflecting here what many in the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) feel."
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Labour's planned asylum system overhaul 'doesn't help society' - MP
Labour MP Tony Vaughan said Labour's planned reforms for the asylum system 'doesn't help society'
|X/TONY VAUGHAN
Labour MP Tony Vaughan KC has said the Government’s asylum system overhaul "doesn’t help society".
He said that while he "totally agrees" with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that the Government must regain the public's trust on Britain's asylum system, the proposed reforms were "taking the wrong turn".
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "I mean, a particular problem that I have is around the idea that we should be trying to kick refugees out despite having granted them protection.
"I think the idea is that we review their status after two and a half years on a kind of rolling basis, so then hopefully at some point their countries will be safe and we can deport them. I think that is completely the wrong position in principle.
"We need to be making sure that if the system has decided, applying the immigration controls, that somebody should be granted asylum, we should be welcoming and integrating and not creating this situation of kind of perpetual limbo and alienation, which doesn’t help the refugees and it doesn’t help society."
Labour MP slams asylum reforms as 'antithesis of what party is about'
In response to Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms set to be announced later today, Labour MP Rachael Maskell told Times Radio: "The dehumanisation of people in desperation is the antithesis of what the Labour Party is about."
She added: "Instead of the Labour leadership chasing Reform, the very people who took us out of the Dublin Agreement, they should commence a proper process for developing an evidence-based policy, upholding our historic reputation for advancing the human rights."
Borders minister insists Labour is not chasing Reform voters with asylum system reforms
Borders minister, Alex Norris, has insisted Labour is not chasing Reform UK voters with its new asylum policy.
He told BBC Breakfast: "The one thing I can assure you is that political considerations don’t come into this.
"We’re the Government of the country. We get out of bed every day to do our best by the people of this country.
"We know people are fed-up. We know people don’t want to see people coming in an uncontrolled way."
WATCH: Matt Vickers says 'everything going the wrong way' on illegal migration under Labour Government
Minister urges Labour backbenchers to wait for asylum announcement amid backlash on plans
The borders minister has urged Labour backbenchers to wait for the Home Secretary’s asylum announcement later on Monday amid an outcry from some MPs.
Asked about opposition from backbenchers, Alex Norris told Times Radio: "I respect my colleagues and their views.
"I know they want what we want, which is a safe system where people don’t make dangerous journeys. They want a system that is controlled, that has the confidence of the British public."
Asked about accusations that the policy was racist, he said: "I disagree with that characterisation.
"Of course, they have not seen the package yet and I ask them to look at it closely. I know they will."
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