Councils offered say in judicial review on asylum seekers for new EU states

Solicitor Pierce Glynn, which is acting for one of the claimants, has asked Camden and Haringey to join those bringing about a judicial review of the policy of immediately withdrawing support from asylum seekers from states that joined the EU last Saturday.

Judge Collins, who gave permission for the review to go ahead on Tuesday, said council interests should be represented.

Haringey and Camden house large numbers of former asylum seekers from the 10 states (see "Who's housing whom?", left).

Haringey was considering the request as Housing Today went to press on Wednesday, and Camden council was waiting to receive the solicitor's letter.

The Home Office performed an 11th-hour U-turn on Friday when it contacted councils to say they could continue to house and support more than 2500 former asylum seekers, who were due to be evicted on 1 May, until 15 May.

Under pressure from councils and charities (HT 30 April, page 7), the Home Office has now started an urgent case-by-case review.

But this week's court hearing has further complicated matters.

Judge Collins found the government's position to be "arguably unfair" and gave two asylum seekers permission to bring the judicial review. This should be heard within two to three weeks unless the Home Office backs down.

Solicitor Sue Willman of Pierce Glynn, which is representing one of the two, said: "The judge gave a very clear indication that the procedure the National Asylum Support Service had followed was unfair. We hope in the light of that, the Home Office will reconsider their position."

The solicitor wants former asylum seekers from new EU states to be allowed three months to find jobs and homes.

Charity Child Poverty Action Group is searching for a test case to challenge the government's plan to stop citizens from the accession countries from claiming benefits until they have worked in this country for a year.