U.K. Government Proposes Sweeping Changes to Asylum Policy, Including Potential Removal of Support for Asylum Seekers
LONDON – The U.K. government is preparing to unveil a major overhaul of its asylum policies aimed at deterring irregular migration and streamlining the removal of those already in the country. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to outline the proposals in Parliament on Monday.
Official figures show asylum claims in Britain are at a record high, with approximately 111,000 applications made in the year ending June 2025.
the Home Office has described the reforms as “the largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times.” Key elements of the plan include revoking a statutory legal duty, established in a 2005 law, to provide support to asylum seekers.This means housing and weekly financial allowances would no longer be guaranteed, becoming “discretionary.” The government could deny assistance to asylum seekers deemed capable of working or supporting themselves, or those with criminal records.
The move comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Labor government faces mounting pressure to curb the number of migrants crossing the english Channel in small boats from France. More than 39,000 people have made the dangerous crossing this year, exceeding the total for 2024 but falling short of the record set in 2022.
The issue is also fueling support for the Reform party,led by nigel Farage,which has recently led Labour in opinion polls. Labour is reportedly drawing inspiration from Denmark’s strict migration policies, where asylum claims are at a 40-year low.
Denmark’s system involves one-year renewable residency permits, encouragement for refugees to return home when safe, and stringent requirements for family reunions, including age minimums, language tests, and proof of financial stability.Britain’s new policies are expected to include a tightening of rules around family reunions.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, has urged the government to reconsider the plans, stating they “will not deter” the crossings and arguing that refugees should be supported to “build secure, settled lives and give back to their communities.”
The proposals are likely to face opposition from within Labour’s more left-leaning factions, who fear losing voters to parties like the Greens.
