Massive petition to AXE asylum seeker benefits storms past 160,000 signatures as public fury over £1BILLION monthly bill explodes

339

Groundswell of support for ending ‘financial and other support’ could force parliamentary debate as petition creator warns handouts ‘incentivise illegal migration’

A huge petition demanding the government completely scrap ALL benefits for asylum seekers has smashed through the 160,000 signature mark – putting massive pressure on MPs to debate the explosive issue in Parliament.

The petition, which calls for an immediate end to the eye-watering £1 BILLION monthly bill for asylum seeker support, has seen an extraordinary surge in backing as public anger reaches boiling point over the Channel migrant crisis.

With 161,952 signatures and counting, the campaign has blown past the 100,000 threshold required for parliamentary consideration – meaning politicians can no longer ignore the groundswell of public fury over taxpayer-funded handouts to asylum seekers.

The petition’s creator Bob Clements warns that current support – including free accommodation, food, healthcare, and cash payments – is acting as a magnet for illegal immigration, particularly dangerous Channel crossings that have hit record levels this year.

This petition is to advocate a cessation of financial and other support provided to asylum seekers by the Government,” the petition states bluntly. “I believe that such provisions may inadvertently incentivise illegal migration, particularly via the English Channel.”

The £1 BILLION monthly bombshell

The staggering scale of taxpayer support for asylum seekers has been laid bare in the petition, which reveals the government is hemorrhaging almost £1 billion every month on benefits including:

• FREE ACCOMMODATION in hotels, hostels and private housing
• FREE FOOD and daily meal allowances
• FREE HEALTHCARE including optical and dental treatment
• CASH PAYMENTS of £39.63 per week (£5.64 per day)
• FREE LEGAL AID for immigration cases
• FREE EDUCATION for children

According to Home Office figures, aid spending on refugees in the UK – officially called “in-donor refugee costs” – sat at over £2 billion in 2024, down from a peak of £4.2 billion the year before.

But the true cost could be even higher when all support services are factored in, with councils alone spending £141 million since 2022 on extras including PlayStations, DJ lessons, and gym memberships for asylum seekers.

Public rage explodes as small boats surge

The petition’s explosive growth – gaining tens of thousands of signatures in just 24 hours – comes as the small boats crisis reaches new heights.

Over one weekend alone, a staggering 1,195 migrants crossed the Channel, smashing the record daily total for 2025 as people smugglers pushed out multiple boats from French beaches.

The surge forced both British and French lifeboats to be scrambled to help border patrol vessels on both sides of the Channel deal with the overwhelming numbers.

Reform UK’s Lee Anderson didn’t mince his words, blasting: “They’re not asylum seekers. They’re illegal migrants.”

‘Stop making Britain a magnet for illegals’

The petition has struck a chord with millions of Brits struggling with the cost-of-living crisis while watching asylum seekers receive comprehensive support packages.

Supporters argue that the current system is:

• Creating a “pull factor” encouraging dangerous Channel crossings
• Diverting vital resources from British citizens in need
• Overwhelming public services already at breaking point
• Making Britain more attractive than other European countries

One frustrated supporter commented: “People who lived in the UK all their lives and have paid into the system via National Insurance have to fight for very little help, even ex-service personnel get no housing, yet we give accommodation and weekly allowance to asylum seekers making this country a very appealing place to come.

Parliamentary showdown looms

Having sailed past the crucial 100,000 signature milestone, the petition has now entered the top 10 most popular campaigns on the Government’s website – putting it firmly on Parliament’s radar.

Under parliamentary rules, all petitions that reach 100,000 signatures must be considered for debate by MPs, though the Petitions Committee has discretion over which ones are selected.

The campaign’s momentum shows no signs of slowing, with signatures pouring in at a rate of thousands per day as word spreads across social media platforms.

GB News highlighted the petition’s surge on Twitter, helping it gain tens of thousands more backers within hours as frustrated Brits rushed to add their names.

The counter-argument: ‘Attacking the vulnerable’

Critics of the petition have condemned it as an attack on some of the world’s most vulnerable people, arguing that asylum seekers fleeing war, persecution, and violence deserve compassion, not punishment.

Humanitarian organizations point out that:

• Many asylum seekers have no choice but to flee their countries
• The £39.63 weekly payment is barely enough to survive on
• International law requires countries to support asylum seekers
• Most refugees contribute positively to the economy once settled

A counter-petition calling for INCREASED support for asylum seekers attracted just 36 signatures before closing – highlighting the overwhelming public sentiment in the opposite direction.

Government under pressure as crisis deepens

The Labour government faces mounting pressure over its handling of the asylum crisis, having scrapped the Conservatives’ Rwanda deportation scheme while promising to “smash the gangs” behind Channel crossings.

But with small boat arrivals continuing to surge and the bill for asylum support spiralling out of control, public patience appears to be wearing thin.

The government’s new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill includes measures to:

• Deny citizenship to anyone who entered illegally
• Create “return hubs” in the Western Balkans
• Increase detention capacity
• Target smuggling networks

However, critics say these measures don’t go far enough and fail to address the fundamental issue of generous support packages acting as a pull factor.

What happens next?

With the petition now guaranteed consideration by the Petitions Committee, several outcomes are possible:

1. PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE: MPs could be forced to debate the issue in Westminster Hall
2. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Ministers will have to provide a detailed written response
3. POLICY REVIEW: The groundswell of support could force a rethink on asylum support
4. PUBLIC INQUIRY: Pressure may build for a full review of costs and benefits

The petition remains open until later this year, with organizers hoping to push the total even higher to maximize pressure on politicians.

The £39.63 question

As the debate rages on, the fundamental question remains: should asylum seekers receive ANY financial support while their claims are processed?

Current support levels include:

• £39.63 per week for a single adult
• £5.64 per day for food, clothing, and toiletries
• Free accommodation worth hundreds per week
• Full NHS access including GP, hospital, dental, and optical care

For a family of four, the total support package can be worth over £2,000 per month when accommodation and services are included – far exceeding what many working British families have to live on.

Join the debate

The petition continues to gain momentum at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/705383, with supporters urging others to sign and share to keep the pressure on politicians.

As one supporter put it: “It’s time to put British people first. We can’t be the soft touch of Europe anymore.”

With public anger at boiling point and the petition numbers climbing by the hour, the government faces a defining moment: listen to the people or risk an even bigger backlash at the ballot box.

The message from 161,952 signatures and counting is crystal clear – enough is enough.