Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled sweeping changes to Britain’s asylum system on Monday, drawing criticism from both her own backbenchers and opposition parties who say the measures either go too far or not far enough.
Key Proposals
The reform package, which draws inspiration from Denmark’s restrictive approach, includes several major changes to how the UK processes and supports asylum seekers.
Under the new system, individuals who fail in their asylum claims would be offered enhanced financial packages—potentially exceeding the current £3,000 limit—to voluntarily return to their home countries. Family units could receive even larger sums.
Perhaps most significantly, the pathway to permanent settlement would be extended from five years to twenty years. Refugee status would be reviewed every thirty months, with individuals subject to removal if conditions in their home countries improve.
Support System Overhaul
The government plans to eliminate the legal requirement to support asylum seekers facing destitution, a provision originally derived from EU law. Instead, support would become discretionary, available only to those deemed vulnerable, those who contribute economically, and those who comply with regulations.
Those with work authorization or who deliberately become destitute would lose access to taxpayer-funded assistance. The reforms also target individuals who fail to comply with removal orders or work illegally.
Appeals Process Restructuring
The existing tribunal system would be replaced with a new body featuring independent adjudicators rather than judges. For the first time, the Home Office would control which cases receive priority and could establish specialized procedures for claims considered manifestly unfounded.
Asylum seekers would have a single opportunity to make their claim and one chance to appeal, ending what Mahmood described as a cycle of repeated applications that currently prevents removals.
The Home Secretary pointed to a backlog of 51,000 appeals as of March, arguing that fundamental reform is necessary despite increased judicial capacity.
Article 8 Reforms
The proposals include changes to how claims under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights—covering the right to private and family life—are evaluated. A strengthened public interest test would consider factors like pressure on public services.
The definition of family would be narrowed to focus primarily on immediate relatives rather than extended family members.
Political Reactions
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch offered qualified support, calling the measures a starting point while insisting that any effective solution requires withdrawing from the ECHR. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp pledged Conservative backing when Labour MPs inevitably oppose the reforms.
Within Labour’s ranks, however, anger is mounting. Multiple MPs condemned the proposals as harsh and counterproductive. Tony Vaughan, a former immigration lawyer, cautioned that the government’s rhetoric fuels divisiveness. Nadia Whittome directly challenged Mahmood in the Commons, calling the Denmark-inspired policies dystopian.
Olivia Blake warned that hostile asylum policies create chaos rather than control migration, while Ian Byrne accused ministers of attempting to outflank Reform UK on immigration, calling the approach morally bankrupt.
Government Defense
Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in the policy document’s foreword that the asylum system was designed for different circumstances and cannot handle current migration patterns, particularly Channel crossings by people who have traveled through multiple safe countries.
Speaking in Parliament, Mahmood argued that Britain’s comparative generosity compared to European neighbors draws asylum seekers to UK shores. She described the current system as feeling out of control and unfair to the public.
Borders Minister Alex Norris urged colleagues to examine the full package before judging, insisting the government cannot defend a broken system that erodes public confidence.
Additional Measures
The reforms include visa restrictions on Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless those nations improve cooperation on returning illegal migrants.
Controversy erupted over suggestions that migrants’ personal assets could be seized to offset accommodation costs, though ministers quickly clarified that family heirlooms like wedding rings would not be confiscated.
The document noted that 700 Albanian families have avoided removal despite their country’s cooperation with removal efforts.
Implementation Timeline
A consultation on enforcing family removals will be launched, along with a separate consultation in 2026 on linking benefit access to economic contribution. The legal obligation to support destitute asylum seekers will be revoked in coming months.
Downing Street denied accusations of chasing hard-right voters, stating the reforms respond to the mandate received to secure borders and address an asylum system described as chaotic and placing enormous pressure on communities.
