UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced a major set of reforms to Britain’s asylum and returns system, introducing measures that will make refugee status temporary and accelerate the removal of people who enter the country illegally.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said the asylum system had failed to adapt to a changing world.
“Some are refugees, others are economic migrants seeking to use — and abuse — our asylum system,” she said. “Even genuine refugees are travelling through safe countries to reach the most attractive destination.”
UK Facing ‘Unsustainable Burden’
Mahmood outlined the scale of pressure on the system:
- 400,000 people have sought asylum in the past four years
- Over 100,000 are currently living in asylum accommodation
- More than half of recognised refugees remain on benefits eight years after arriving
“To the British public, who foot the bill, the system feels out of control and unfair,” she said, warning that unmanaged migration risks deepening national divisions. While condemning racism and violence, she cautioned that failing to fix the system could inflame anger and social tension.
New Policy: ‘Restoring Order and Control’
The government published a detailed policy document titled Restoring Order and Control, focused on reducing illegal arrivals and increasing removals of people with no legal right to stay.
Mahmood acknowledged what she called an “uncomfortable truth”: asylum claims across Europe are falling, yet rising in the UK — a trend she links to Britain’s comparatively generous rules. Nearly 40% of asylum seekers arrive via small boats, while another significant portion enter legally on visas before claiming asylum.
Key Changes to the Asylum System
The reforms include:
1. Temporary Refugee Status
- Refugee protection will last 2.5 years, down from five.
- Extensions will only be granted if return to the home country remains unsafe.
- Permanent settlement will now require 20 years, a major shift from the current five-year requirement.
2. New ‘Work and Study’ Visa for Refugees
Refugees who can support themselves through employment or education will have access to a new visa route offering a faster path to long-term settlement.
3. Possible Withdrawal of Benefits
The government will consult on removing welfare support from refugees who are able to work but choose not to.
Restoring Control While Remaining Compassionate
Mahmood said the UK remains “open, tolerant and generous,” but public trust depends on having firm control over immigration.
“To maintain the generosity that allows us to provide sanctuary, we must restore order and control,” she said.
The Home Secretary argued that the reforms are essential to fix a system she described as “out of control” — and to ensure the UK can continue offering protection to those with genuine need.
