UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Sunday defended sweeping changes to the country’s refugee and asylum system, saying irregular migration is “tearing our country apart” and insisting the government’s approach is driven by responsibility, not political pressure.
The proposals, based on Denmark’s strict asylum model, are aimed at curbing the thousands of people crossing the Channel from northern France in small boats a trend that has strengthened support for the anti-immigration Reform UK party. The Refugee Council criticised the plans as “harsh and unnecessary,” and members of the Labour Party’s left wing are expected to challenge them.
Mahmood rejected claims that the government is adopting far-right rhetoric, telling the BBC that tackling illegal migration is “a moral mission” because of its impact on communities.
Currently, refugees receive five years of protection before becoming eligible for permanent residency and eventually citizenship. Under the new proposals, refugee status would be reduced to 30 months and subject to regular reviews, with people required to return to their home countries once those places are deemed safe.
The Home Office also plans to extend to 20 years the period refugees must wait before applying for long-term residency a major increase from the current five-year route. At the same time, the government says it will establish new regulated work and study pathways for those it considers genuine refugees.
Asylum applications in the UK are at an all-time high, reaching 111,000 in the year to June 2025. The Home Office described the changes, which Mahmood will present to Parliament on Monday, as the “largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times,” aiming both to reduce incentives for irregular migration and speed up the removal of those not allowed to remain.
A significant change involves revoking a 2005 legal duty that guarantees housing and weekly financial support for asylum seekers. Under the new rules, assistance would become discretionary, meaning the government could deny it to individuals who are able to work but do not, or to those who commit offences.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in office since July 2024, faces ongoing pressure to reduce Channel crossings a challenge that also confronted previous Conservative governments. More than 39,000 people have arrived this year, surpassing the total for 2024 though still below the 2022 peak.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has held a strong polling lead over Labour for much of the year, adding to political urgency around migration policy.
Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon urged ministers to reconsider, arguing the measures will not stop dangerous crossings and that refugees who contribute to the UK should be allowed to build stable lives.
Labour’s proposals mirror aspects of Denmark’s approach, where successful asylum cases are at a 40-year low. Danish refugees typically receive one-year renewable permits and are encouraged to return home once conditions improve. Strict rules also apply to family reunification, including age limits, language requirements and financial guarantees.
Left-leaning Labour MPs are expected to oppose the UK government’s plan, concerned that the party risks losing voters to more progressive alternatives such as the Greens.
