The Rt Rev Graham Usher has accused Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, of "lumping all asylum seekers together" under the proposals.

Her sweeping reforms, announced this week, include limiting refugees to temporary stays, overhauling human rights law to help increase deportations and threatening countries with visa bans unless they accept returns of criminals and illegal immigrants.

The bishop, who sits in the House of Lords, is the most senior cleric to speak out against the plans, saying they would make integration harder as refugees would "feel unable to put down roots".

He joins other critics, including refugee groups and Labour backbenchers who have branded some aspects of the reforms "cruel".

Migrants onboard a small boat in Gravelines, France., November 7. (Image: Gareth Fuller)

However, his comments may also put him and the Church of England under scrutiny, with critics likely to question whether it is appropriate for him to intervene in the political debate.

The Church in past has been accused - including by many of its supporters - of peddling platitudes and "well meaning cliches" on immigration.

Conversely, many in government are likely to relish the cleric's attack, believing it will help convince the public they are finally fixing an immigration system widely regarded as broken and which has led to rising community tensions.

Ministers see the reforms as a crucial way to chip away at Reform's lead in the polls.

The Rt Rev Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich (Image: Diocese of Norwich/Luke W Bryant)

In his lengthy rebuke of the Home Office plans, the bishop said: “Many people understandably have concerns about the numbers of those seeking asylum in the UK.

"I believe that there needs to be a good, evidence-based debate on........

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