Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to unveil what allies describe as the most significant transformation of Britain's asylum system since the Second World War, with temporary refugee status set to replace permanent protection for those granted sanctuary in the UK.
The End of Permanent Asylum
Under the sweeping reforms scheduled for announcement to MPs on Monday, the UK will cease granting permanent asylum to refugees. Instead, refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review, with individuals being removed as soon as their home countries are deemed safe to return.
This represents a fundamental departure from current rules, where those granted refugee status receive protection for five years before becoming eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, putting them on a pathway toward British citizenship.
An ally of the Home Secretary stated: 'Today, becoming a refugee equals a lifetime of protection in Britain. Mahmood will change that, making refugee status temporary and subject to regular review. The moment your home country is safe to return to, you will be removed.'
Record Numbers and Policy Context
The policy shift comes as the UK faces unprecedented pressure on its asylum system. Latest Home Office figures reveal 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025 – the highest number since current records began in 2001.
In a video posted on social media platform X on Friday, Ms Mahmood described her plans as 'the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times' and highlighted that while asylum claims are falling across Europe, they continue to rise in Britain.
The Home Secretary criticised the previous government's approach, accusing them of wasting time and money on the £700 million Rwanda scheme instead of tackling the problem effectively.
Additional Measures and International Comparisons
The comprehensive reform package includes several other significant changes. Judges will be required to prioritise public safety over migrants' rights to a family life or concerns about facing 'inhuman' treatment if returned to their home countries.
The government is also examining Denmark's tighter rules on family reunions, with a 2017 study suggesting that Denmark's 'negative nation branding' had effectively limited asylum applications.
Meanwhile, Channel crossings continue, with 39,075 people having arrived in the UK after making the journey so far this year – already surpassing the totals for both 2024 (36,816) and 2023 (29,437).
The Government's pilot scheme with France, introduced in August, has resulted in 113 people being returned to the continent, while 92 have arrived in the UK through approved safe routes under the same agreement.
Labour has emphasised its enforcement efforts, noting record levels of immigration raids and arrests, with nearly 50,000 people without the right to be in the UK having been returned.
