Fury in Britain: Muslim minister concealed immigration-related data

Fury in Britain: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood refused to disclose to her colleagues the expected effects of her new asylum plan on the homelessness rate. Sources say the minister was asked several times but flatly refused to respond. The Home Office claims it cannot quantify the exact impact.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has sparked anger among cabinet colleagues after failing to share information on the impact of her immigration changes on homelessness. Sources say the minister repeatedly refused to reveal how much she expects the number of homeless people to rise as a result of changes to the asylum system. Home Office ministers will meet with colleagues from other departments in the coming days to forge a compromise amid warnings of a potential workforce crisis in the care sector. One person familiar with the dispute said Mahmood was asked several times about the impact on homelessness and community cohesion, but flatly refused to respond. The Home Office says it cannot quantify the exact impact because details have not yet been finalized, and insists the new system was designed to minimize impact on poverty and homelessness. A department spokesperson said the policy went through the usual cross-government process, and that ending asylum hotels will not leave people homeless. Mahmood announced her changes to the asylum system last November, including ending permanent residency and the government's obligation to support people who would otherwise become destitute.