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Shabana Mahmood has pledged to take robust measures to secure the United Kingdom’s borders, and clearer details of her approach are now emerging. She is expected to announce in Parliament that individuals granted asylum will be allowed to remain in the UK only on a temporary basis. This means that once their country of origin is deemed safe, these asylum seekers will be returned, with their status reviewed regularly throughout their stay.
This new policy is part of a broader government effort to deter illegal Channel crossings by migrants seeking refuge in the UK. Mahmood is likely to signal an end to the era of indefinite protection for asylum seekers, replacing it with a model that emphasizes temporary residence followed by repatriation when possible.
The announcement coincides with the Home Office’s release of figures showing that nearly 50,000 illegal migrants have been removed or deported since the Labour administration took office. This represents a 23% increase in removals compared to the 16 months prior under the previous Conservative government. Insiders within the government describe Mahmood’s move as a significant departure from previous policy and note its inspiration from Denmark’s stringent asylum and immigration framework, led by the centre-left Social Democrats. Under Danish rules, refugees receive temporary residence permits, usually valid for two years, and must reapply upon expiry. Over time, the path to citizenship has become more challenging and extended.
Mahmood and her supporters highlight that the tightening of Denmark’s asylum policies coincided with rising support for the Social Democrats and a decline in backing for the populist right-wing People’s Party. She warns that without similar measures adopted in the UK, more extreme political factions could gain ground. Officials have even visited Denmark to examine their system firsthand, paying particular attention to rules limiting family reunification, to ensure the broader approach serves as a deterrent to those considering seeking asylum. The Home Secretary views the relative generosity of the UK’s current asylum system as encouraging illegal crossings.
However, the approach has met resistance within Labour. Some MPs argue that adopting Denmark’s model risks alienating progressive voters and echoes rhetoric associated with far-right groups. Clive Lewis, a Labour MP, expressed concerns that this stance might push voters toward more left-wing parties, while Nottingham MP Nadia Whittome described it as a moral and political dead end. Mahmood is expected to caution her critics that failure to adopt tougher policies could result in greater electoral gains for hardline parties like Reform UK.
While Mahmood praises Denmark for balancing strict asylum policies with adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights, both she and Denmark’s minister responsible for immigration aim to curtail judicial decisions they perceive as overly protective of family life rights, which can complicate deportations. She is set to address this in her upcoming statement to Parliament. Meanwhile, Reform UK calls for leaving the Convention entirely and advocates for detaining and deporting cross-Channel arrivals immediately, whereas the Conservatives support reviving schemes like the Rwanda plan to deter illegal migration. The Home Secretary is anticipated to acknowledge that the UK’s border situation remains “out of control,” and while new policies may not instantly restore voter confidence, any reduction in migrant numbers could help her party regain credibility on migration and other political issues
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