In a significant policy shift, the UK government is looking abroad for solutions to its migration challenges, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly drawing inspiration from Denmark's controversial approach to asylum seekers.
The Danish Blueprint: A Left-Leaning Hardline Approach
Since 2019, Denmark's left-of-centre Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has implemented rigorous immigration policies that have reduced migrant and asylum seeker numbers to a 40-year low. What makes this approach particularly noteworthy for the UK's Labour government is that it comes from a social democratic administration, providing political cover for measures that might otherwise be condemned as far-right.
Danish ministers argue that by addressing public concerns about migration through strict legislation and enforcement, they've created space to implement socialist policies in other areas. This strategy has not only kept far-right parties from power but allowed the government to remain committed to its liberal left agenda elsewhere.
Key Measures Under Consideration
The Danish policies that could influence UK reforms include offering only temporary refuge for those fleeing war rather than indefinite leave to remain, with some Somalis, Sudanese and Syrians already being required to return home under the Danish system.
Other potential measures include stricter interpretation of asylum qualifications, where claiming membership of a persecuted minority is insufficient - individuals must demonstrate they were personally targeted by a regime. Family reunion rules would also tighten, with Denmark requiring higher income, work and language standards, plus a minimum age of 24 for spouses to reduce forced marriages.
Permanent settlement in Denmark is only available to those resident for eight years and in employment, creating a higher barrier than current UK requirements.
Implementation Challenges in the UK Context
While the Danish model offers an attractive template, significant differences between the two nations present substantial implementation challenges. Denmark has approximately one-tenth of the UK's population and is less ethnically diverse, making enforcement considerably easier.
The UK also faces unique obstacles including the draw of the English language, relative ease of finding work due to less stringent labour law enforcement, and lack of consensus among Labour MPs about the desirability of stricter migration controls.
Some Danish measures would likely prove politically unpalatable in Britain, such as requiring asylum seekers to contribute to their keep with valuables they bring, or refusing to house new migrants in areas predominantly populated by non-Danes.
With Labour facing pressure from Reform UK on migration issues, and concerns about potential losses in spring local elections and the next general election in 2029, the government is seeking solutions that could reduce both legal and illegal arrivals without violating international obligations.
Whether the Danish approach can be successfully adapted to Britain's unique circumstances remains uncertain, but the very fact that ministers are looking beyond these islands for workable solutions represents a significant development in UK immigration policy thinking.
