Britain’s Labour government has unveiled plans to drastically reduce protections for refugees, describing the move as the largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times. The announcement came on Saturday as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over irregular migration and rising support for the hard right.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood declared: “I’ll end UK’s golden ticket for asylum seekers.” Under current rules, refugees are granted status for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and eventually citizenship. The new proposals would cut refugee status to 30 months, subject to regular review, with refugees forced to return to their home countries once deemed safe.
The Home Office also said refugees granted asylum would have to wait 20 years before applying for long-term residency, compared to the current five. Officials argue the changes are necessary to address record-high asylum claims, with 111,000 applications filed in the year to June 2025.
The announcement comes amid growing concern over migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, a challenge that has plagued successive governments. More than 39,000 people have arrived this year, surpassing the total for 2024 but below the record set in 2022.
The crossings have fueled the popularity of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which has consistently polled ahead of Labour by double-digit margins throughout the year. Analysts say the asylum overhaul reflects Starmer’s attempt to counter political pressure while addressing Britain’s migration crisis.
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