The Labour government has announced what it describes as the most significant overhaul of the UK asylum system in modern times, proposing sweeping reforms that would drastically limit the ability of refugees to gain permanent settlement in the country.
A New Era of "Core Protection" Status
Under the new plans, the current system where refugees are granted five years of protection before being able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will be replaced. Instead, a new "core protection" status will be introduced, offering refugees 30 months' leave at a time. This status would be renewable only while an individual is judged to still need protection, with no prospect of permanent settlement for 20 years.
The reforms go further, ending automatic family reunion rights and making benefits harder to access, with support more closely tied to economic contribution. The government also plans to restart enforced returns to countries including Syria and create a new, faster appeals process with tighter limits on repeated human rights claims.
Political Backlash and the Danish Inspiration
The proposals have already sparked significant backlash from within the Labour party itself. Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan warned the policy risks creating a state of "perpetual limbo and alienation" for refugees. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy described the idea as "not just performatively cruel" but economically misjudged, arguing that unstable status prevents refugees from securing employment, bank accounts, or mortgages.
The inspiration for this hardline approach appears to come from Denmark, where the Social Democrat government implemented a similar "paradigm shift" in 2019. This marked a move away from integration towards repatriation, with residence permits reduced to just one or two years at a time and no guarantee of permanent status.
Lessons from the Danish Experience
Despite the tough rhetoric, Denmark's own legal system has blocked some of the most controversial measures, including attempts to return Syrian refugees. While the harsh stance appears to have reduced the number of asylum seekers choosing Denmark, much of the policy has proven unenforceable in practice.
The political calculation for Labour appears to mirror that of the Danish Social Democrats, who adopted a tough immigration stance to win votes from the far right. However, this strategy has not permanently solved immigration as a political issue in Denmark, where the far right is climbing in popularity again with even more extreme demands.
The Conservative party has offered to support the government's plans, with Kemi Badenoch describing them as "steps in the right direction" and noting the discontent among Labour backbenchers. This creates a complex political dynamic for Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he attempts to navigate the contentious immigration debate while maintaining party unity.
