The United Kingdom is poised to introduce the most sweeping changes to its asylum and refugee system in a generation, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to unveil a package of reforms designed to overhaul how the country handles migrants and asylum seekers. The new measures, which are set to be announced to Parliament on Monday, will mark a decisive shift in the UK’s approach—making refugee status temporary, dramatically extending the wait for permanent settlement, and curtailing automatic rights to housing and financial support for asylum seekers.
According to The Sunday Times and corroborated by Sky News and The Independent, the reforms are inspired by Denmark’s hardline model, which has slashed asylum applications to their lowest level in 40 years and removed 95% of rejected asylum seekers. The UK government, facing mounting pressure from rising migration numbers and surging support for right-wing parties, hopes to replicate that success while restoring what it calls “order and control” to the nation’s borders.
Central to the overhaul is the plan to make refugee status a temporary condition. Currently, refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years in the UK. Under the new rules, this period will be extended to 20 years—a fourfold increase—before a refugee can even apply for permanent settlement. In addition, the length of initial refugee status will be slashed from five years to just 30 months, subject to regular reviews. If a refugee’s home country is deemed safe, their protection will be revoked and they will be expected to return.
"I can see—and I know my colleagues can—that illegal migration is tearing our country apart," Mahmood told The Sunday Times. The Home Secretary has described the changes as “the most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation,” vowing to end what she calls the UK’s “golden ticket” for asylum seekers.
These changes come at a time when the UK is seeing record numbers of asylum applications. Home Office figures show that 111,084 people applied for asylum in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since records began in 2001. The government blames the current system for acting as a magnet, drawing people across Europe and encouraging dangerous crossings of the English Channel. So far in 2025, 39,075 people have arrived in the UK by small boat—a 19% increase from 2024 and a 43% jump from 2023, though still 5% lower than the peak in 2022, according to Sky News.
Another headline measure is the scrapping of the statutory legal duty to provide asylum seekers with housing and financial support. Introduced in 2005 under EU law, this duty currently guarantees accommodation and a weekly payment (currently £49.18 per person, or £9.95 if meals are provided) to cover basic living costs. Under the new proposals, support will “no longer be a given,” the Home Office said. Those who can work but choose not to, those with assets, or those found breaking UK law could see their support withdrawn. The changes will apply not only to new arrivals but also to people already in the asylum system.
Ministers argue that the reforms will reduce the incentive for small boat crossings and restore public trust in the asylum system. The government also plans to introduce new safe and legal routes for refugees, including a community sponsorship scheme modeled on the successful ‘Homes for Ukraine’ program. Local communities will be able to sponsor individual refugees, helping them to integrate and learn English, while the government works with the United Nations Refugee Agency, local authorities, and community groups to design the system.
Work and study routes for skilled refugees will also be expanded, building on the Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot launched in 2021. This initiative has already seen businesses hire refugees for roles such as senior engineers, paralegals, and construction managers. A cap on these new routes is yet to be determined, but the intent is to prioritize those who can contribute to the UK economy and communities.
The government’s plan is not without controversy. Within the Labour Party, some backbenchers are uneasy about the divisive nature of immigration reform, and there are concerns that the harshness of the measures could undermine the UK’s tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger. The Home Office, however, insists that “taxpayer-funded benefits will be prioritised for people who are making a contribution to the economy and communities.”
Critics from across the political spectrum have weighed in. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the Labour government of being “incapable of getting any real change past their left-wing backbenchers,” and dismissed some of the new measures as “yet more gimmicks—like the previous ‘smash the gangs’ gimmick.” He argued, “Only the Conservative borders plan will end illegal immigration—by leaving the ECHR, banning asylum claims for illegal immigrants, deporting all illegal arrivals within a week and establishing a Removals Force to deport 150,000 illegal immigrants each year.”
Meanwhile, Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned, “These sweeping changes will not deter people from making dangerous crossings, but they will unfairly prevent men, women and children from putting down roots and integrating into British life.”
The reforms are also set against the backdrop of a shifting political landscape. Labour’s push for tougher immigration rules comes as Reform UK’s poll numbers continue to climb, with the party polling at 26%, ahead of Labour at 19%, and the Conservatives at 18%, according to recent YouGov figures reported by The Independent. The government hopes that by tightening the rules and restoring public trust, it can stem the tide of support for populist rivals.
Notably, the UK’s new approach is modeled on Denmark, which has managed to remain a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights while still enforcing strict asylum rules. The Danish government’s policies have resulted in a dramatic reduction in asylum claims and a high rate of removals for rejected applicants, outcomes the UK government is eager to emulate.
As the government prepares to roll out its new system, the stakes could not be higher. Shabana Mahmood’s allies have described the moment as “the last chance for a decent, mainstream politics,” warning that if moderate reforms fail, “something darker will follow.” The reforms, they say, demand boldness—even if some of the measures seem immoderate to parts of the Labour base.
With the announcement imminent, the UK stands at a crossroads: seeking to balance compassion for those fleeing danger with the need to control its borders and restore faith in the immigration system. The coming weeks will reveal whether Mahmood’s gamble pays off—or whether the country’s political and social divisions over migration will only deepen.
