Home Office Axes Taxi Service for Asylum Seekers' Medical Appointments
A controversial policy allowing asylum seekers to use taxis for medical appointments has been abruptly terminated by the Home Office following revelations of exorbitant costs to the British taxpayer. The decision comes after a BBC investigation exposed cases where migrants were billing the government hundreds of pounds for lengthy journeys, including one individual who charged £600 for a 250-mile round trip to see a GP for a routine knee check-up.
Urgent Review Leads to System Overhaul
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood launched an urgent review into the transport arrangements after these disclosures and has now confirmed the complete scrapping of the previous system. "I have ended the wasteful use of taxis for medical appointments to protect the taxpayer's purse," Mahmood stated emphatically to the BBC. "I will stop at nothing to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain to restore order and control to our borders."
Under the newly implemented rules, taxi usage will be strictly limited to exceptional circumstances only. These include:
- Cases involving serious disability
- Instances of critical illness
- Requirements related to pregnancy
Even in these permitted scenarios, every taxi journey must now receive explicit sign-off approval directly from the Home Office before proceeding.
Revealing Case Studies and Cost Implications
The investigation uncovered multiple examples of questionable spending. One taxi driver reported that his firm alone was conducting approximately fifteen daily drop-offs from a southeast London hotel to a local doctor's surgery located just two miles away. These short journeys alone were reportedly costing the Home Office around £1,000 per day.
Another driver, identified only as Steve, revealed more troubling practices. He explained that some taxi firms deliberately inflated mileage charges by dispatching drivers from locations far from the actual pick-up point. During his time working for a subcontractor, Steve was repeatedly sent from Gatwick to Southampton—a round trip exceeding 275 miles—with half the distance travelled without any passenger in the vehicle.
Substantial Financial Burden on Public Funds
This policy change forms part of a broader initiative to reduce a massive £15.8 million annual transport bill for asylum seeker movements. Official figures released in November highlighted this staggering expenditure, prompting the government to take decisive action.
The context of this spending review is particularly significant given recent migration statistics. During 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants arrived in the UK via Channel crossings—the second-highest annual figure ever recorded. This represents a 13% increase from the 2024 total of 36,816 and a substantial 41% rise from 2023's figure of 29,437.
Broader Immigration Policy Landscape
The taxi ban coincides with the government's implementation of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law in December. This legislation introduces new criminal offences and grants law enforcement agencies counter-terrorism style powers to combat people-smuggling networks more effectively.
Furthermore, Home Secretary Mahmood has announced what she describes as "the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times." Inspired by Denmark's approach, these proposed reforms would make refugee status temporary—subject to review every thirty months—and extend the waiting period for permanent settlement from five to twenty years.
However, these proposals have generated considerable political controversy. Several Labour MPs have criticised the plans as resembling policies advocated by Nigel Farage and Reform UK, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has argued they don't go far enough, maintaining that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights remains essential for addressing migration challenges comprehensively.
The government continues to review taxi usage for asylum seekers travelling between accommodation centres, indicating that further transport policy adjustments may follow as part of ongoing efforts to manage migration costs and processes more efficiently.
