A NEW crackdown on how long refugees can remain in Britain will leave torture victims living in "constant fear", a Merseyside MP warned yesterday.
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Riverside, condemned the Government's plans to scrap the policy of granting indefinite leave to remain to successful asylum-seekers.
Refugees will instead have their status reviewed within five years and will be sent home if they are no longer considered to be at risk of persecution.
During a Commons debate, Mrs Ellman warned the shake-up would be "extremely traumatic" particularly for children.
Mrs Ellman also questioned how the Home Office could judge a country to be safe, adding: "In countries such as Iran, there can be constant changes in situation."
And she criticised separate plans to remove the right of appeal from foreign students and workers who are refused visas to come to Britain.
Mrs Ellman's comments came during debate on the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill, which will introduce £2,000 on-the-spot fines for employers of illegal immigrants.
However, five-year reviews for refugees are not part of the Bill and can be introduced by the Home Secretary without a vote.
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