IDS: capping asylum numbers

The Conservatives will cut asylum numbers to just 20,000 a year, Iain Duncan Smith said on Sunday.

Under his proposals the UK would set a quota and force all other asylum seekers to return to their home nation or face being sent to an asylum "safe haven" - such as a remote island or cargo ship.

Writing in the News of the World, Duncan Smith says "Britain has lost control of her borders".

Promising hundreds of new immigration officers at ports and entries, the opposition leader says asylum seekers should make their case "before they enter the country".

"One advantage of a quota system is that it cuts out the need for asylum centres and costly processing," he said.

"All those who arrive illegally and outside the quota will be removed. This way we can save £1.3 billion a year."

Duncan Smith concedes, however, that "some genuine refugees" may still reach British shores.

"To ensure that they are treated as humanely as possible we will follow Australia's example and give them the choice of returning to their country of origin immediately or going to an offshore haven to have their claim processed."

He added that this option "would not be attractive to economic migrants" but would be "agreeable" to those genuinely fleeing persecution.