Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments

Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil measures under which people’s refugee status would be reviewed every two-and-a-half years Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

A Church of England bishop has said Shabana Mahmood’s comments on asylum seekers have shaken him “to the core” and argued people coming to the UK are being “scapegoated” for years of government policy failures.

Mahmood is expected to announce measures under which people’s refugee status would be reviewed every two and a half years and their wait for permanent settlement could be extended to 20 years. It also understood that people granted asylum could be returned if their country is deemed safe. It follows comments in which Mahmood said illegal migration was “tearing the country apart”.