Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has issued a stark warning that public consent for Britain's asylum system could completely collapse unless the government takes decisive action against illegal migration.
Sweeping Reforms to Be Unveiled
The Labour minister will present what she describes as "the most sweeping set of reforms in modern times" to the House of Commons on Monday. This represents the largest overhaul of the UK's asylum system in recent history, fundamentally changing how Britain grants sanctuary to those fleeing conflict and hardship abroad.
Ms Mahmood emphasised the urgency of these measures during appearances on both Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips and the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. "Illegal migration is causing huge divides here in our own country," she stated, adding that action is essential "to retain public consent for having an asylum system at all."
Key Changes in the New System
The comprehensive package aims to make Britain less attractive to illegal migrants while streamlining removal processes. Among the most significant changes:
Refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review, ensuring people return to their homelands once conditions become safe. Simultaneously, the government will introduce safe and legal routes to the UK to reduce dangerous small boat crossings across the English Channel.
In a major policy shift, Ms Mahmood will revoke the statutory legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support that was introduced in 2005 through EU law. This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers.
The reforms also include requiring judges to prioritise public safety over migrants' rights to family life or risks of "inhuman" treatment if returned home. Additionally, AI facial age estimate technology will be deployed to verify whether those claiming to be children are telling the truth.
A Personal and Moral Mission
The Home Secretary, who describes herself as "the child of migrants," rejected suggestions that tackling illegal migration aligns with far-right rhetoric. "Immigration is absolutely woven into my experience as a Brit," she told the BBC, noting her parents came to Britain lawfully in the late 1960s.
Ms Mahmood framed her approach as a "moral mission" aimed at preventing division across communities. "I can see illegal migration is tearing our country apart, it is dividing communities," she asserted, acknowledging she must persuade both Parliament and the public that these reforms can work.
The government has drawn inspiration from Denmark's strict asylum approach, where a similarly centre-left administration has successfully reduced incentives for illegal migration and increased deportations.
Political Reactions and Migration Statistics
The announcement comes as the government faces pressure from restive Labour backbenchers. The scale of the challenge is underscored by recent figures showing 39,075 people have arrived in the UK via small boats so far this year - already exceeding the totals for both 2024 (36,816) and 2023 (29,437), though slightly below the 39,929 recorded at this point in 2022.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey expressed concerns that poorly designed policies might prevent refugees from contributing to society. "There is a danger here if the Government gets this wrong," he warned, noting it could become "self-defeating" by limiting refugees' ability to pay taxes and start businesses.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp offered cautious support, describing the plans as "very small steps in the right direction with a few gimmicks." The senior Conservative reiterated his party's position calling for "no illegal immigration whatsoever" and a cap on legal migration to dramatically reduce numbers.
