Keir Starmer (AP)
The UK government is preparing to launch one of the most extensive overhauls of asylum rules in decades, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set to announce a sweeping package of changes in the Commons on Monday. Modelled closely on Denmark’s hardline system, the proposals aim to reduce irregular arrivals, curb small boat crossings and prevent the UK being seen as a more attractive destination than neighbouring countries.Mahmood has framed the reforms as a “moral mission”, saying the current system is “broken”, places “huge pressure” on communities and has allowed rule-breakers to “get away with it”. She rejected claims that Labour is echoing far-right rhetoric, emphasising her own background as the child of migrants and insisting the measures are designed to restore fairness and public confidence.More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year — already surpassing the total for all of 2024. Asylum claims have also risen sharply, with more than 109,000 applications made in the year to March. Ministers argue that without firm action, the system will continue to be overwhelmed and exploited by criminal gangs.
A Denmark-style model
At the heart of the reforms is a fundamental shift away from the assumption that refugee status offers a near-automatic pathway to permanent settlement. Under the new plan, people granted asylum will face two-and-a-half-year reviews of their protection claims, with the Home Office reassessing whether conditions in their home countries have become safe. If so, they may be required to return — even if they have built lives, jobs and families in Britain.For those who arrive illegally, the road to settlement will be stretched dramatically: they will need to wait **20 years** before applying for permanent status. Current rules allow most refugees to seek indefinite leave to remain after five years. Mahmood has indicated, however, that asylum seekers who use legal routes, find work and “contribute to society” could secure settlement sooner.Denmark introduced a similar system two decades ago, shifting refugees onto temporary permits that must be frequently renewed. Its approach has drawn international criticism, but the UK government argues that the Danish model has successfully reduced asylum applications to a 40-year low and enabled the removal of the vast majority of people denied protection.
Major new restrictions planned
Ministers are also preparing to rewrite laws introduced under EU rules that guarantee housing and weekly allowances to people who would otherwise be destitute. Under Mahmood’s plan, support will become discretionary — meaning it can be withdrawn from asylum seekers who have the right to work but do not, those who break the law, or those found working illegally.She argued that the current framework leaves some asylum seekers “in a better position than most British citizens in social housing”, saying criminal gangs exploit generous misconceptions to sell “packages” to migrants promising free hotels and food.The Home Office has confirmed it will also expand enforcement tools, including facial-age AI technology to help determine whether irregular arrivals claiming to be children are in fact adults. Critics warn the system risks misclassifying minors, while the Refugee Council says the broader reforms will leave people in “limbo and anxiety” for years.Conservatives dismissed the package as “gimmicks”, insisting only rapid deportation — within a week of arrival — would deter crossings. Liberal Democrats argue asylum seekers should have the right to work, reducing reliance on state support.