SHABANA MAHMOOD will end the government’s duty to support all destitute asylum-seekers as she seeks to shut more asylum hotels, sources have said.

The Home Secretary intends to remove support from some asylum-seekers and begin evicting people from hotels in the spring.

In a move first reported by the i paper, Ms Mahmood will target asylum-seekers who could support themselves financially but choose not to, along with those who have a right to work, who break the law or work illegally, and those who refuse an order to leave Britain.

This is expected to allow her to remove support from thousands of the 111,651 people currently receiving payments or accommodation from the government, although many are likely to remain eligible for support.

Around 36,000 asylum-seekers were housed in hotels at the end of September, the latest available figures show, with the Home Office saying fewer than 200 hotels are now in use.

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is attempting to demonstrate progress on deterring small boat crossings and cutting the asylum bill, with Ms Mahmood said to expect further hotel closures by April.

Other policies under consideration, according to the i paper, include finding alternative accommodation such as military barracks or houses in multiple occupation, expanding the one-in, one-out deal with France and striking a new agreement with Germany.

Asylum-seekers from Syria could also face removal, with the government deeming the country safer following the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024.

A Labour source said: “The Home Secretary is a woman in a hurry. 

“She is working tirelessly to introduce these reforms to restore order and control to our borders.”