London, UK – The British government is preparing a major overhaul of its asylum system, aiming to reduce illegal immigration and address growing public concern over dangerous English Channel crossings. The plan, set to be unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, is modeled after Denmark’s strict approach to asylum and seeks to make the UK less attractive to unauthorized arrivals.

Political Context and Rising Migrant Arrivals

The announcement comes amid a political storm over migration, which has fueled support for the hard-right Reform UK Party. Mahmood emphasized that controlling borders is a “moral mission” and stressed that the Labour Party’s policies are not adopting far-right rhetoric despite her own migrant heritage.

This year, more than 39,000 migrants have attempted to reach the UK by boat, surpassing the 2024 total of 37,000, though still below the 2022 peak of nearly 40,000. While small boat arrivals have risen, they remain a fraction of total immigration, with most people entering legally on visas. Net migration in the year to June 2025 was 431,000, down nearly 50% from 860,000 a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Key Reforms in the Asylum System

The proposed reforms aim to tackle illegal crossings and streamline repatriation:

• Revocation of Legal Duties: The UK will remove its duty, introduced under EU law in 2005, to provide guaranteed support for asylum seekers, including housing and weekly allowances.
• Conditional Benefits: Assistance may be withheld from those who are eligible to work but fail to do so, commit crimes, or work illegally.
• Regular Refugee Reviews: Refugee status will be periodically assessed to determine whether repatriation is safe and feasible.
• Safe Asylum Routes: The government plans to designate legal pathways for migrants to claim asylum without risking dangerous crossings in overcrowded boats.

Political Reactions

The policy has drawn criticism from some Conservative MPs, including Chris Philp, who argued that the changes are “tinkering at the edges” and unlikely to match the effectiveness of the previously proposed Rwanda scheme, which was scrapped. Philp stated that every unauthorized migrant should be deported within a week.

The Home Office cited Denmark as a model, highlighting its success in reducing asylum applications to a 40-year low while removing 95% of applicants who sought to settle. However, critics warn that such strict measures may discourage genuine refugees and attract international scrutiny.