The UK government has announced big changes to how the country treats refugees and asylum seekers. These new rules are meant to cut down irregular immigration and respond to pressure from right-wing parties, Al Jazeera reported. The announcement was made late Saturday and immediately sparked strong reactions from refugee organisations. The full plan will be presented in Parliament on Monday.
Why is the UK planning to reduce protections for refugees
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been facing pressure amid the rise of the anti-immigrant Reform UK party. The new plan is inspired by Denmark’s strict asylum system, which is known for offering only temporary protection and encouraging refugees to return home as soon as possible. “I’ll end UK’s golden ticket for asylum seekers,” Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said in a statement, with the Home Office, as her ministry is known, calling the new proposals the “largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times,” according to Al Jazeera.
One of the most controversial parts of the new plan is the decision to remove the legal duty to support asylum seekers. This duty, introduced in 2005, was used to ensure that people waiting for an asylum decision receive basic housing and weekly financial help.
The Home Office now wants to replace this system with a discretionary one. This means support will not be guaranteed. The government could deny help to someone it believes can work or support themselves. It could also refuse support to people who commit crimes.
Shorter refugee status and longer wait to settle
Currently, refugees in Britain receive five years of protection. Once those five years are over, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and later for citizenship. The new proposal changes this system almost entirely.
According to the Home Office, refugee status will now last only 30 months, which is two-and-a-half years. After that, the government will regularly review each person’s situation. If officials believe their home country has become safe, refugees will be expected to return.
The government also plans to make refugees wait 20 years before applying for long-term residency in the UK. This is a major change from the current five-year wait. According to ministers, this long wait is meant to show that protection will be granted temporarily, not permanently.
Record asylum claims
The UK has seen a rise in asylum applications. Official figures show that around 111,000 claims were made in the year leading up to June 2025, the highest number Britain has ever recorded.
At the same time, more than 39,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year. Many of them are escaping conflicts or dangerous conditions at home. Although the number is lower than the record in 2022, it is already higher than in 2024.
However, not everyone is convinced that these new measures will work. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned that the changes will not stop people from trying to reach the UK. He said the government should instead make sure that refugees who work hard and contribute to society can build stable and secure lives in Britain.