In a significant shift in its immigration strategy, the British government has announced the most comprehensive reform of its asylum policy in recent memory. This bold move, articulated by the Labour administration on Saturday evening, aims to curtail illegal immigration, as reported by news agencies AFP and Reuters.
Under the new framework, the security afforded to refugees will be severely curtailed. Those granted refugee status will now enjoy this protection for just 30 months—down from the previous five years, as highlighted by AFP.
Furthermore, these refugees will face regular assessments of their cases, with the expectation that they will return to their home countries once deemed safe.
Automatic benefits for asylum seekers are set to be eliminated altogether, a move that underscores the government’s commitment to reshaping the asylum landscape.
The proposed reforms draw inspiration from the stringent immigration policies seen in Denmark and other European nations, as indicated in a statement from the Home Office, according to Reuters. “The UK will now match and, in some instances, exceed these standards,” the Ministry of the Interior declared.
This tightening of immigration policy reflects an urgent response to the rising influence of the populist Reform UK party, which has successfully captured voter attention by prioritizing immigration issues. As a result, Labour, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, finds itself compelled to adopt a tougher stance on the matter.
/ritzau/
