The UK government is preparing to announce a major change in its asylum policy by limiting refugees to temporary stays in the country, a strategy inspired by Denmark’s approach. Currently, refugees in the UK can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, a path that ultimately leads to citizenship. However, under the new plans, individuals granted asylum could be returned to their home countries once conditions are deemed safe, with their status undergoing regular reviews.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is poised to declare the end of permanent protection for refugees in an effort to curtail asylum applications and unauthorized Channel crossings via small boats. She suggests that failing to adopt similar measures might enable "darker forces" to gain traction in the UK.
UK ministers, including Mahmood, regard the Danish model favorably, noting that the Social Democrats of Denmark increased their popularity with a hardened stance on immigration—a move that coincided with a decline in support for the People's Party, Denmark’s right-wing populist movement. Denmark’s policy grants refugees temporary residence permits, typically for two years, requiring re-application upon expiry. This reflects a substantial shift in direction for UK policy, described by insiders as a significant policy change.
Currently, the UK already has temporary schemes for refugees fleeing the Ukraine conflict, which initially allowed for three-year stays but have since been extended. The BBC recently reported Mahmood dispatched senior Home Office officials to Denmark to glean insights from their system, focusing not just on temporary refugee status but also on Denmark's stricter limitations on "family reunions." Mahmood believes Denmark's policies significantly deter asylum claims, correlating with a notable forty-year low in successful applications.
In her upcoming announcement, Mahmood underscored via social media that the UK will continue to provide sanctuary but must also regain control and order over immigration matters. However, closely following Denmark’s example may provoke controversy. A few years ago, Denmark drew condemnation for seeking to repatriate roughly 200 refugees to Syria, arguing parts of Damascus were safe despite on-going civil strife.
The proposed changes will likely face resistance from some within the Labour Party. Clive Lewis, a Labour MP, equated the strategy to the rhetoric of the far-right, warning that "progressive" voters might shift towards more left-leaning parties like the Greens. Labour MP Nadia Whittome criticized the potential policy, calling it a "dead end—morally, politically and electorally."
Nevertheless, the BBC reveals that Mahmood plans to caution her skeptical party colleagues in Parliament, emphasizing that the current UK refugee system's leniency acts as a magnet for asylum seekers, contributing to risks associated with small boat crossings. She suggests failure to adopt tougher measures could bolster support for movements like Reform UK. As she will assert: "If you don't like this, you won't like what follows me." Mahmood sees Denmark as a model to follow, encapsulated in the phrase "less in more out.”