The Labour party plans a significant overhaul of the asylum system, which will result in asylum seekers potentially losing their automatic right to housing and financial support. This reform, inspired by Denmark's strict immigration policies, aims to reduce the incentive for migrants to cross the English Channel.
The government states that support will no longer be a given, and automatic handouts will end. Under the proposed changes, individuals will face stricter requirements to receive and retain benefits.
Support can be removed if they can work, have assets, fail to comply with removal directions, engage in criminality, disrupt accommodation, or work illegally. These changes will apply to both current and future asylum seekers.
Furthermore, Labour intends to make refugee status temporary, removing it as soon as a migrant's home country is deemed safe. The party also plans to increase the waiting period for permanent settlement in the UK to 20 years, a substantial increase from the current five-year limit.
These measures are part of Labour's effort to regain public trust on immigration issues.
