Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has outlined plans for a stricter asylum system in the UK, aiming to reduce the country's appeal to asylum seekers and expedite the removal of those without a right to remain. The proposals, presented as a government statement, include shortening initial refugee stays to 30 months, extending the period to apply for settled status to 20 years, and removing automatic rights to family reunion for those under core protection.
Asylum seekers will no longer be guaranteed housing or allowances, and those with the means will be expected to contribute to their costs. Families with children and even those from countries like Syria with collapsed regimes could face enforced returns.
The measures are intended to deter what Mahmood describes as "asylum shopping" by individuals seeking the most attractive destination in Europe, including economic migrants posing as refugees. She insists these changes will unite a divided country and fix the asylum system, drawing parallels with Denmark's stricter, yet ECHR-compliant, system which has seen a significant reduction in applications and a high rate of rejected asylum seeker removals.
However, the plans have met significant resistance from Labour backbench MPs. Critics argue the policies are "cruel," "incoherent," and echo the "racist agenda" of far-right groups, potentially alienating voters.
Concerns have been raised that reviewing refugees' status repeatedly will divert resources, and that the rhetoric encourages divisiveness and racism. Some believe these "performative cruelty" measures will undermine efforts to solve immigration issues and improve Labour's electoral standing, with one MP stating the party has taken the "wrong turning." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supports the need for a more robust system to address increased global volatility and Channel crossings, emphasizing the necessity of stronger deterrents and robust enforcement.
He argues that the current system is not equipped for the current challenges, including individuals traveling through multiple safe countries before reaching the UK. Despite this, some within the Labour party, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp, have expressed that even these measures are insufficient, suggesting leaving the European Convention on Human Rights might be necessary to effectively tackle the crisis, though this is not currently part of the government's stated proposals.
The UK has seen a record number of asylum applications in the year to June 2025, with a substantial portion arriving via small boats crossing the English Channel.
