The latest
Britain says it will launch its biggest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times, drawing on Denmark’s tougher model as the Labour government seeks to curb small-boat crossings and undercut populist pressure. The Home Office said it will revoke the statutory duty to provide housing and weekly allowances for certain applicants, targeting people who can work but do not, and those who break the law. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who argues the pace and scale of migration is straining communities, will set out further details on Monday.
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- Taxpayer-funded support will be prioritized for people contributing to the economy and local communities, the Home Office said.
- The measures are designed to make the UK less attractive to irregular arrivals and to speed removals of those with no right to remain.
- The announcement comes as Labour hardens its stance on migration amid sustained pressure from the Reform UK party.
Political backdrop
Immigration has overtaken the economy as voters’ top concern, according to polling cited by officials, reshaping Britain’s political debate. More than 100 charities have urged the government to end what they call scapegoating and “performative policies,” warning of rising racism and violence. Protests have flared outside hotels housing asylum seekers with state funding.
- 109,343 people applied for asylum in the year to March 2025, up 17% from the previous year and above the 2002 peak of 103,081.
- Charities wrote to Mahmood pressing for protections, arguing most people come to the UK due to family ties, English language familiarity or existing support networks.
- Labour’s shift reflects efforts to blunt Reform UK’s gains and reassure voters worried about small-boat crossings from France.
Denmark-style model and European context
The UK says it will mirror—and in some areas exceed—approaches in Denmark and other European countries where protection is temporary, support is conditional and integration is expected. In Denmark, permits are typically temporary, often two years, and can be revoked if authorities deem a home country safe; residency and citizenship requirements have also tightened. By contrast, the UK currently grants refugee status for five years, with potential permanent settlement thereafter.
- British officials studied Denmark’s system in Copenhagen earlier this year; the Home Office says the UK will align with those standards.
- Denmark’s measures—such as a 2016 law allowing seizure of valuables to offset costs—have drawn sustained criticism from rights groups.
- The Home Office cites Danish results including a 40-year low in asylum claims and removal of 95% of rejected applicants; advocates say such policies erode protection and prolong uncertainty.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
