Britain’s government has launched a major overhaul of its asylum and human-rights framework, unveiling plans to sharply reduce refugee protections and end automatic benefits for asylum
seekers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the measures on Nov 16, arguing that irregular migration is “tearing our country apart.”
The reforms — inspired by Denmark’s hard-line asylum model — are the Labour government’s most far-reaching attempt yet to curb the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. The surge in arrivals has energised the anti-immigration Reform UK party and placed mounting political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
But the proposals have drawn immediate fire across the political spectrum. Left-leaning Labour MPs warned of a betrayal of the party’s values, while the Refugee Council labelled the changes “harsh and unnecessary.” The opposition Conservatives also criticised the plans, with their home affairs spokesman Chris Philp accusing ministers of merely “tinkering at the edges.”
Mahmood rejected claims that Labour was pandering to the far right. Speaking to the BBC, she framed the reforms as a moral imperative. “Illegal migration is tearing our country apart,” she said. “It is dividing communities.”
Shorter refugee status, tighter reviews
Under current rules, refugees are granted five years of protection before being allowed to apply for permanent residency. The Home Office now plans to cut refugee status to just 30 months, subject to regular reviews, and to mandate returns once countries of origin are deemed safe.
In another significant change, people granted asylum would need to wait 20 years before applying for indefinite leave to remain — a fourfold increase from the existing pathway.
The government says the measures are designed to reduce the incentive for irregular migration and accelerate the removal of people with no legal right to stay.
Curbing legal challenges
New legislation will also seek to limit the use of the European Convention on Human Rights in deportation cases — a long-standing frustration for successive governments.
Starmer said the reforms would “block endless appeals, stop last-minute claims and scale up removals.”
Britain is currently processing asylum claims at record levels, with 111,000 applications in the year to June 2025.
Benefits no longer guaranteed
Another pillar of the shake-up is the repeal of a 2005 legal requirement to provide housing and financial support for asylum seekers. Assistance will become discretionary, and could be denied to those deemed capable of supporting themselves or who have committed crimes.
More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year — surpassing the total for 2024, though still below the 2022 record.
France welcomed the British proposals. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said migrants risk the dangerous journey because conditions in the UK “are more permissive” than in Europe. Paris has long urged London to align its policies more closely with EU standards.
Critics warn deterrence will fail
Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon cautioned that tightening protections will do little to stop Channel crossings. “They should ensure that refugees who work hard and contribute to Britain can build secure, settled lives,” he said.
Danish inspiration, domestic risks
Labour officials recently travelled to Denmark, where asylum approvals have plunged to a 40-year low under some of Europe’s strictest rules. Danish refugees typically receive one-year, renewable permits and face tight restrictions on family reunification.
Labour’s harder line reflects increasing pressure from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, whose party has led Labour in several polls this year. But the shift also risks alienating progressive voters, many of whom may turn to the Greens. Photo by UK Home Office, Wikimedia commons.