UK may suspend visas for countries that won’t take back failed asylum seekers, says Mahmood

New home secretary vows to move ‘further and faster’ to cut number of people entering by irregular routes

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Countries that refuse to take back rejected asylum seekers from the UK could face visa suspensions, Shabana Mahmood said on Monday, as she promised to move “further and faster” as home secretary.

Confirming that she hopes to take a harder line than her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, she said she would do “whatever it takes” to cut the number of people entering the UK by irregular routes such as small boats.