Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil the Labour government's radical overhaul of Britain's asylum system on Monday afternoon, in what could become one of Europe's toughest immigration regimes.
What the reforms will change
In her Commons speech scheduled for around 3.30pm, Ms Mahmood will announce measures directly inspired by Denmark's strict approach to asylum seekers. The most significant change involves making refugee status temporary and subject to regular review, rather than providing a clear path to settlement.
Under current UK law, people granted refugee status maintain it for five years before being able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. The new system will see refugees removed as soon as their home countries are deemed safe, while the wait for permanent settlement will be extended dramatically to 20 years.
The home secretary will also introduce legislation to reinterpret Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to family life - in migrant court cases, which she claims could prevent migrants from "gaming the system."
Additional measures and international pressure
Further reforms include revoking the government's legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, meaning housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed. Failed asylum seekers will be limited to making only one appeal against their removal instead of multiple challenges.
In a show of determination to make the plan work, Ms Mahmood will impose visa restrictions on three African countries - Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo - if they fail to co-operate with the removal of illegal migrants. "My message to foreign governments today is clear: accept the return of your citizens or lose the privilege of entering our country," the home secretary stated.
The government will also introduce what critics have called a "jewellery law," allowing officials to confiscate refugees' valuables to help cover accommodation and living costs.
Political and charitable reaction
The proposals have already sparked concern among some Labour backbenchers and human rights organisations. Kent MP and former immigration lawyer Tony Vaughan expressed worries that the measures were "taking the wrong turn," particularly the concept of "kicking refugees out despite having granted them protection."
Charities have responded with widespread consternation. Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK criticised the approach, saying: "Constantly demonising and scapegoating refugees in a hopeless and cruel attempt to deter people seeking asylum in the UK is causing social division while wrecking the asylum system."
The reforms come after a troubled first 16 months for Sir Keir Starmer's government, during which illegal immigration has remained a pressing issue. In the year to June, the UK received the highest number of asylum applications since 2011, while nearly 20,000 people arrived via small boat crossings during the same period.
