TORY Ministers have blocked a Labour plot for taxpayers to foot lawyer fees for asylum seekers – who are already receiving £1,600 monthly handouts.
Fury erupted yesterday after the Sun revealed plans from Welsh politicians to let some young migrants claim free legal aid despite them also getting a no-strings salary.
Migrants crossing the Channel
Ministers in Cardiff had requested permission from Whitehall to exempt asylum seekers from legal aid means testing while they pocket the hefty Universal Basic Income.
But they have been slapped down by Conservatives in London who insist that asylum seekers being paid £1,600 should not also expect their legal support from the public purse.
A response from UK Justice Minister Lord Bellamy and Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said migrants receiving the monthly bungs must use that cash to fight removal bids.
They write: “As the purpose of your pilot is to provide its members with basic income for the general purpose of living costs rather than a specified one, we would consider this to be financial resource available for use on legal services.
“Where people earn income, we expect they will be able to use it for legal services.
“Our rationale for this approach is to ensure that limited legal aid resources are directed at those most in need of financial support.
“We are therefore not in a position to be able to exclude members of the Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales pilot from the means assessments for legal aid.”
The Tory ministers also voiced their opposition “on the principle” of Wales’ Universal Basic Income pilot for care leavers.
Slating the initial Welsh request, Tory deputy Lee Anderson sarcastically said: “That’ll teach ’em. After a year of fighting our Rwanda Plan it looks like Labour finally have their own plan to tackle the migrant crisis.”
A Conservative source said: “While we’re working to stop the boats, Labour are working to stop deportations.
“Any voter in Wales would rightly be appalled to hear their devolved government is deploying tactics to funnel more money from their pockets into the pockets of illegal migrants and ultimately, human traffickers.”
