The United Kingdom will cut refugee protections and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers under a new plan announced by the Labour government on Saturday.
The sweeping measures mirror Denmark’s strict asylum model and come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces rising pressure from the fast-growing Reform UK party.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would end what she called “the UK’s golden ticket for asylum seekers.”
She said the goal was to curb irregular migration and reduce the number of people entering the country through unsafe routes.
The Refugee Council quickly criticised the move. Its chief executive warned that the reforms would not stop people from trying to reach Britain.
He urged the government to reconsider before the changes cause lasting harm.
The new plan marks a major break from existing policy. At the moment, refugees are granted five years of protection.
They can then apply for indefinite leave to remain and begin the journey toward citizenship. Under the proposed rules, refugee protection will drop to 30 months.
The Home Office said each case will face regular reviews. Refugees will be forced to return home once their countries are deemed safe.
The overhaul goes further. Refugees will now wait at least 20 years before applying for long-term residency.
The current waiting period is only five years. The Home Office called the reform the biggest restructuring of asylum laws in modern British history.
Asylum applications in the UK are at their highest level on record.
Government data shows that 111,000 people applied for asylum in the year leading to June 2025.
Many arrived through dangerous English Channel crossings that have challenged several UK governments for years.
The new plan also targets welfare benefits.
The government intends to remove the legal duty to provide housing and weekly allowances for asylum seekers. That obligation has existed since 2005.
Support will now be discretionary.
Officials say the government can deny assistance to asylum seekers who refuse to work, fail to support themselves or commit crimes.
Starmer has faced criticism over the rising number of small-boat arrivals.
More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel this year. That figure has already exceeded the total for 2024, though it remains below the 2022 record.
The Labour government is studying Denmark’s model closely. Senior UK officials recently visited the country.
Denmark grants refugees one-year renewable permits and encourages early return once home countries stabilise.
Strict rules also govern family reunification. Mahmood is expected to push similar reforms in the UK.
Many in Labour’s left wing fear the policy will alienate progressive voters. They argue that the government should protect refugees who contribute to the UK.
The Refugee Council echoed this view. It said genuine refugees deserve stability and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Mahmood will present the full policy package to parliament on Monday.
