THE British government’s draconian attack on asylum rights will “lead to less community cohesion,” Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville warned today.

Under the new measures, refugees will have to reapply to stay in Britain every 30 months so the government can reassess if their home country is “safe” to return to.

The proposed new system will leave refugees in limbo for two decades before they are deemed eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Ms Somerville said: “There does need to be reform, but what we have here are reforms that will actually lead to less community cohesion and destitution for more people, including those who actually have had their asylum process completed and granted.

“What’s being suggested here is you can live here for 20 years, you can raise a family here, you can be contributing to your economy, to your society and then you will be told to go back to where you came from.

“Is that seriously the type of society that we want to live in, uprooting families that are actually part of our communities?

“That doesn’t help integration and community cohesion — it actually panders to people who want to other those who come to Scotland.”

Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman added: “What is the point of having a human rights lawyer like Keir Starmer in Downing Street if he is prepared to sign off on policies that show such a blatant disregard for basic rights and dignity?

“It is not immigration that is tearing our country apart. It is the hate and division being spewed by the far right and those mimicking them.”