Andy Burnham defends shocking new guidance telling asylum seekers not to rape

Andy Burnham has defended new Government advice telling asylum seekers that rape and domestic abuse are serious crimes. The Prime Minister said it is right to make it “explicitly clear” what the UK’s societal norms and laws are.

Officials are telling migrants that sex with children is illegal and warning them that “men and women are equal” in the UK.

Migrants are also being told domestic abuse is illegal and that the age of consent in the UK is 16.

Speaking to reporters in West Yorkshire today, Mr Burnham said: “As a Government, we have a very clear principle: if you break UK law, you will be removed from the country and we have seen that in relation to immigration, where removals are significantly up. I’m currently working to ensure that foreign national offenders who can be removed from the prison system are removed from that system.”

The Prime Minister said: “So it follows that if we’re taking this approach, it’s made explicitly clear what the UK law is and what the societal norms of the UK are, and that’s why this approach is being taken.”

The nine-page document – first revealed by the Daily Express – says it is to help “understand what is expected of you when living in the UK” and the “rules and expectations are not just for people seeking asylum, they apply to everyone living here”.

It advises that rape, sex with someone under the age of 16 and domestic abuse are “serious crimes” which could lead to prison and loss of support and accommodation, as well as affecting asylum claims

In the section titled “sex and consent”, the guidance tells asylum seekers that “consent is needed in every situation”.

The guidance also covers gender equality, saying equal rights are “an important part of UK culture… protected by law”.

Immigration chiefs warn: “Sex with someone under the age of 16 is a serious crime in the UK. There are no exceptions to this rule. Even if they say yes, it is still illegal. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim.”

Migrants are told not to deny children food, or “cut or harm a girl’s genitals”.

And the staggering advice even details what rape is, insisting that “consent” is needed in every sexual situation.

The document states: “This means even if you are married or in a relationship with someone, they must consent to sex every time.

“If you have sex with someone without their consent, this is called rape. Rape is a serious crime in the UK. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim.”

Guidance published in the booklet for asylum seekers adds: “Someone can change their mind at any time, even if they said yes before.

“If someone is asleep, drunk, or unable to respond, they cannot consent.”

Britain’s asylum crisis was laid bare by the Home Office as 93,525 sought sanctuary in the UK last year, down from 106,130 in the previous 12 months.

An alarming 38,980 people applied after crossing the Channel on a dinghy, while 36,711 claimed refuge after arriving on a study, work or visitor visa.

Of this group, 10,835 held a study visa, 13,994 arrived on a work visa, 7,048 used a visitor visa and 4,834 held other forms of leave.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said on X: “Instead of trying to train these mainly young, male illegal immigrants to behave in a civilised way towards women, the Home Office should instead deport them.

“This tells us all we need to know about the kind of people illegally entering our country.

“Illegal and legal immigrants are coming from places and societies where attitudes towards women are completely incompatible with Western society.”

In a video posted on X, Reform home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf described the guidance as a “disgrace”, which shows the Government knows asylum seekers are a “menace”.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We expect everyone who comes to the UK to abide by our laws. If they do not, they will face consequences, including the refusal of their asylum claim and removal from the UK.

“Returns of failed asylum seekers have reached their highest level since 2010 under this Government.”