UK unveils sweeping asylum reforms — Home Secretary defends cuts to refugee protections

Britain's Home Secretary defended a package of measures on Sunday that would sharply reduce refugee protections and remove guaranteed benefits for asylum seekers, saying irregular migration was "tearing our country apart." The government says the changes are intended to deter small-boat crossings from northern France to England and to speed up removals of people with no legal right to remain.

Modelled in part on Denmark's strict asylum framework, the proposals have sparked controversy across the political spectrum. Left-leaning MPs within Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government and charities such as the Refugee Council have criticised the plans as unnecessarily harsh. The centre-right Conservatives also argued the measures do not go far enough.

Key changes proposed

The Home Office said it would:

• Reduce the initial period of refugee status from five years to 30 months, with regular reviews and an expectation that refugees return once their home countries are judged safe.
• Introduce a 20-year waiting period before people granted asylum can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
• Revoke a statutory duty (introduced in 2005) that currently guarantees housing and weekly financial support for asylum seekers, making such assistance discretionary.
• Pass legislation to make it more difficult for irregular migrants and foreign nationals convicted of crimes to use the European Convention on Human Rights to block deportations.

Government response and criticism

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, said the package was a "moral mission" to protect communities and reduce illegal crossings.

"This is a moral mission for me, because I can see illegal migration is tearing our country apart, it is dividing communities," she told the BBC.

Mr. Starmer said the reforms would "block endless appeals, stop last-minute claims and scale up removals of those with no right to be here." Critics, including the Refugee Council's chief executive Enver Solomon, warned the measures "will not deter" crossings and urged the government to enable refugees who work and contribute to build stable lives in Britain.

The Conservatives' home affairs spokesman, Chris Philp, described the proposals as "tinkering with the edges," arguing they fall short of addressing the crisis effectively.

Numbers and international reaction

Asylum claims in Britain are at record levels: roughly 111,000 applications were lodged in the year to June 2025, according to official figures. More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats so far this year — higher than the total in 2024 but below the peak seen in 2022.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed the proposals, saying some alignment with European standards was appropriate and suggesting that current British conditions may encourage risky crossings.

The Danish model

Labour officials have looked to Denmark — where asylum policies are among the strictest in Europe — for inspiration. In Denmark, refugees often receive shorter, renewable residency permits and are encouraged to return when authorities deem their countries safe. Family reunification rules in Denmark are also stringent, requiring minimum ages for parents, language tests and proof of financial means.

Political context: Labour has trailed the Reform UK party in recent polls. The government's tougher stance on immigration aims to recapture voters concerned about migration, but it risks alienating progressive supporters who oppose punitive measures.

Reporting note: statements and figures are based on Home Office announcements and official statistics to June 2025.