Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared Britain's asylum system is 'out of control' and is 'tearing our country apart', as she prepares to launch the most significant reforms to the process since the Second World War.
Denmark-Inspired Hardline Measures
In a statement set for Monday, the Home Secretary will outline a new hardline plan for UK immigration, with measures directly inspired by Denmark's stringent model. The proposed overhaul represents a fundamental shift in how the UK will handle asylum seekers and refugees.
The key changes include the removal of a legal right to financial support for many asylum seekers. This would affect both housing provisions and the weekly allowance currently provided. Furthermore, the government plans to quadruple the time refugees must wait before they can apply for permanent settlement, extending it from five years to a staggering 20 years.
Temporary Status and Deportation Threats
In one of the most controversial moves, refugee status will become temporary rather than permanent. The government will conduct reviews every two to three years. This means individuals who have established lives, jobs, and families in Britain could face deportation if their home country is later deemed safe by the authorities.
To counterbalance these stringent measures, the government will create three new legal routes for entry. These will include capped work and study routes, alongside a community sponsorship scheme for refugees, modelled on the successful Homes for Ukraine programme.
Fury and Accusations of 'Reheated' Policies
The announcement has triggered immediate and fierce criticism from leading charities and immigration experts. Ms Mahmood faced accusations of simply 'reheating failed policies' previously proposed by the Conservative government.
Defending her position, the Home Secretary referenced her own background, stating: "I am the child of migrants myself... Immigration is absolutely woven into my experience as a Brit." She described the crackdown as a "moral mission", necessary to address a system she claims is broken and being abused.
Sunder Katwala, Director of the thinktank British Future, criticised the plan, saying: "These proposals may grab headlines, but they won’t stop the boats." He pointed out the similarity to Priti Patel's 2022 strategy, which ultimately failed to deter Channel crossings.
Sile Reynolds, Head of Asylum Advocacy at Freedom from Torture, condemned the proposals, accusing political parties of being "locked in a race to the bottom – trying to outdo one another in cruelty towards refugees." She warned the plans would punish people who have already lost everything.
The debate unfolds against a backdrop of rising Channel crossings. According to the latest Home Office figures, 39,075 people have arrived in the UK via small boats so far this year. This number has already surpassed the totals for all of 2024 (36,816) and 2023 (29,437).
