Britain has announced plans to carry out the most significant reform of its asylum seeker policies in years, overhauling immigration rules in response to surging anti-immigrant sentiment and challenges from right-wing parties.
The new policy, which the ruling Labour government will unveil in full on Monday, is partially modeled on Denmark’s approach, which has one of the most rigid rules in Europe for refugees.
Labour has been hardening its immigration policies, particularly on illegal small-boat crossings from France, to counter the rising populist Reform UK party, which advocates for “freezing immigration” and “stopping the boats.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce an end to permanent protection for refugees and cuts to living allowances among a series of reforms designed to make Britain less attractive to illegal migrants.
“On Monday, I will announce the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times,” Mahmood said in a video posted on X.
“We need to reduce the numbers coming here illegally. We need to remove more people who have no right to be here. We will always be a country that gives sanctuary to those fleeing danger, but we must restore order and control.”
Mahmood previewed her overhaul in an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper, detailing some of the key changes the Labour government plans to enact.
They include forcing people arriving illegally to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement, as well as making refugee status temporary, with applicants reviewed every 30 months and those from countries deemed safe being required to return.
Those who arrive legally will face a ten-year pathway to permanent settlement, double the current wait.
Mahmood warned of a “more divided” nation if the UK does not tackle the rising number of illegal migrants arriving in Britain.
“I can see — and I know my colleagues can — that illegal migration is tearing our country apart. It’s our job as a Labour government to unite our country,” she told the Sunday Times.
Labour, a centre-left party, has found itself under pressure on all sides of the political divide when it comes to immigration.
Britain’s left tends to favor a more compassionate response to immigration and asylum, whereas its right tends to advocate for immigration reductions and crackdowns.
Mahmood, who is herself the daughter of immigrants from the Pakistani side of Kashmir, may face difficulty selling the policy to some more progressive members of her own party.
However, the rise of the populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, has set the terms of Britain’s political debate, with the Labour government being hounded over its struggles to control illegal immigration. In contrast, public anger – and far-right marches – have risen in parts of the country over housing and public funds for refugees.
The UK’s previous Conservative government sought to tackle the issue by passing a contentious bill allowing the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be processed by the East African nation.
Mahmood said £700 million ($920 million) was spent on the deal, which resulted in only four people being deported, and they were all volunteers.
