How Labour’s controversial immigration crackdown could make Britain’s asylum rules among the toughest in Europe
It’s a tough message that Shabana Mahmood will hope will reach disgruntled voters, criminal gangs smuggling people in small boats and even would-be immigrants on the northern coast of Pas-de-Calais, 100 miles from Westminster.
On Monday afternoon, the home secretary will announce sweeping reforms to the asylum system in an unprecedented bid to make it easier to remove migrants fleeing conflict and hardship and make the UK a less attractive destination.
Illegal immigration has been a hot topic during the troubled first 16 months of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor government, with ministers allegedly failing to control the country’s borders.
From June to June, England received the highest number of asylum applications since 2011, while the number of people arriving via small boat crossings reached almost 20,000 in the same period.
Now, following Sir Keir’s attempts to stem the flow – targeting people-trafficking gangs and the subsequent “one in, one out” deal with France – Ms Mahmood, appointed home secretary in September, will introduce sweeping reforms of her own.
The plans are said to be inspired by Denmark’s approach to refugees; Here, the government changed its approach after the influx in the 2010s. The Scandinavian country now has one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe.
But Labour’s policy changes come amid objections from some hardliners and human rights groups who fear it will be a catalyst for further division in UK societies and bring turmoil and harm to those seeking sanctuary.
What will Shabana Mahmood announce for the asylum system?
In her speech to the House of Commons at around 15.30, Ms. Mahmood will announce radical measures taking Denmark’s system of combating illegal immigration as an example.
Probably the biggest change would be for refugee status to be made provisional and subject to regular review.
Under current UK law, people who are granted status hold it for five years and can then apply to stay indefinitely and enter the pathway to citizenship.
Ms Mahmood will say that under her reforms, refugees will be deported as soon as their home countries are deemed safe. Meanwhile, the waiting period for permanent settlement will quadruple to 20 years.
This is similar to Denmark, where asylum seekers receive a one- or two-year temporary residence permit that is subject to regular review and can be canceled once their home country is deemed safe.
The home secretary will also say ministers will want to introduce a bill to change the way Article 8 (right to family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is interpreted by judges in immigration cases.
He is expected to say this could prevent immigrants from “gaming the system”.
The government’s legal duty to provide support to refugees will also be revoked, meaning housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed. Those who have the right to work and can earn their own living may also be deprived of social benefits.
Unsuccessful asylum seekers will be able to lodge a single appeal against their deportation, rather than having the opportunity to lodge multiple appeals on different grounds.
Ms Mahmood is likely to introduce a “jewellery law” that would allow authorities to seize refugees’ valuables and help pay for accommodation and living expenses.
Meanwhile, new, legal routes will be introduced to the UK as a way to reduce dangerous journeys by small boats across the English Channel.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today program on Monday morning, Borders Minister Alex Norris summed up: “If your intention is to come into the country illegally for a claim to be assessed and you are successful then sit at home, don’t contribute, don’t learn English, integrate into society, not build a life away from the appalling circumstances you may have arrived in, then that will come with much greater checks.”
Which three countries face the threat of UK visa restrictions?
In a sign of her determination to make her plan work, Ms Mahmood will also ban three African countries from accessing UK visas unless they take back illegal immigrants.
Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo will face visa sanctions and prevent their tourists, VIPs and business people from traveling to the UK unless they cooperate more on eliminating illegal immigrants.
This move was reportedly inspired by the Trump administration’s homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, according to the Times.
Ms Mahmood said: “My message to foreign governments today is clear: accept the return of your citizens or lose the privilege of entering our country.”
Independent contacted the London-based embassies of each of the three countries.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that these nationalities did not appear in the top 20 for small boat arrivals until June this year.
What did Labor MPs say about the proposals?
While many backbench MPs have so far, perhaps understandably, remained silent ahead of Ms Mahmood’s announcement, a couple, including Kent MP and former immigration lawyer Tony Vaughan, have voiced their concerns this morning.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Vaughan said he accepted public confidence in the asylum system was declining, but said the measures were “going in the wrong direction”, particularly the idea of ”throwing refugees out despite providing protection for them”.
He said: “If the system has decided that someone should be granted asylum, we should welcome that, integrate and not create this constant state of uncertainty and alienation that is not beneficial to refugees and society.”
Labor MP John McDonnell wrote about X: “Tony Vaughan is one of the new MPs elected for Labor last year and has demonstrated a thoughtful approach to issues in his contributions to Commons debates.
“He is certainly not what the media would call a run-of-the-mill suspect. I suspect he is reflecting what many in the PLP are reflecting here.” [Parliamentary Labour Party] to feel.
Mr Norris said he disagreed with Mr Vaughan’s “characterization” of the policy and urged his colleagues to wait before making a decision.
What did immigrant charities say about the proposals?
There is widespread consternation among charities supporting asylum seekers coming to the UK, following days of media coverage.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International UK, said: “Continuously demonizing and scapegoating refugees in a desperate and cruel attempt to deter people seeking asylum in the UK is collapsing the asylum system while causing social division – which is unhelpful.
“Unfortunately, this home secretary appears determined to continue in the same vein as the previous government, possibly subjecting people now granted asylum to decades of insecurity that will undermine prospects for recovery and integration.”
Fizza Kureshi, chief executive of the Immigrant Rights Network, said: “The Home Secretary is taking unprecedented and appalling steps to blame people for daring to come to the UK for asylum. Instead of supporting their right to seek refugee protection, he is making them a ‘problem’ that needs to be solved with tougher anti-refugee measures.”
Lara Parizotto, executive director of the Immigrant Democracy Project, said: “Mrs Mahmood is reinforcing a dangerous narrative between “good” and “bad” refugees, backtracking to change immigration rules, effectively making it illegal to seek asylum, which is not currently the case, and washing her hands of responsibility by stating that it is the responsibility of local residents to host refugees.”
