Families with children will be subjected to enforced returns if they refuse financial support offered to them by the government to return to their home country, if their asylum application has failed.
The controversial move is one of many sweeping changes announced by the home secretary to clamp down on illegal immigration.
Shabana Mahmood has said the current asylum system is “out of control and unfair” and said that the “pace and scale of change has destabilised communities” as she faces growing backlash from Labour backbench MPs.
A number of Labour MPs expressing their opposition to the planned reforms, which will see the government overhaul human rights laws in a bid to ramp up deportations.
Stroud MP Simon Opher said Labour should “stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it’s wrong and cruel” adding “we should push back on the racist agenda of Reform rather than echo it”.
Other backbenchers have also voiced concerns, with one saying the government’s policy was a “visionless shambles” and another warning “performative cruelty” would undermine efforts to solve problems in the immigration system.
Mahmood has outlined a raft of radical measures, including how the government will attempt to change the way the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted by UK judges in a bid to stop asylum seekers using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
Key points
- Starmer says 'world has changed' as border control needed to 'maintain confidence'
- Backlash expected over removal of families
- 'Performative cruelty': Growing criticism from Labour MPs on asylum reforms
- Shabana Mahmood to introduce Trump-style visa ban on three countries
- Asylum seekers to have assets seized to pay for accommodation
What is Denmark’s approach to asylum?
03:00 , Holly EvansThe Danish government drastically changed its migration system in response to a major influx of people throughout the 2010s. As a result, asylum seekers can only get temporary residence permits for one to two years.
– Residency is subject to regular review, and can be revoked once a refugee’s home country is deemed safe.
– Refugees are usually eligible for permanent status after eight years, and in order to get it they must speak fluent Danish and are required to have had a job for several years. There are also supplementary requirements, including “active citizenship”.
– People refused asylum must live in “departure centres”, a basic standard of accommodation designed to incentivise a voluntary return home.
– Family reunification is also subject to strict tests, including that both a sponsor and their partner must be over 24 years old, in a bid to prevent forced marriages.
– A controversial policy known as the “jewellery law” allows the Danish authorities to confiscate asylum seekers’ assets, including jewellery, to help fund the costs of their stay in Denmark. Assets of “special personal significance” should not be taken.
– The authorities are also able to demolish and sell social housing in areas where more than 50 per cent of residents are from a “non-western” background, under a so-called “ghetto law” designed to prevent the formation of “parallel societies”.
– The effect of Denmark’s policies has been to reduce the number of asylum applications to the lowest number in 40 years, and remove 95 per cent of rejected asylum seekers. It has however been criticised by some opponents as racist, and elements of it were previously found to have breached human rights law.
The Home Secretary’s asylum reform plans explained
02:00 , Holly EvansHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a new strategy to "restore order and control" to the UK’s asylum system, taking inspiration from Denmark.
The reforms, outlined in a 33-page document titled Restoring Order and Control published on Monday, are aimed to make Britain a less appealing destination for illegal migrants and to simplify their removal, Ms Mahmood informed MPs.
Here, we look at what is in the policy document outlining the government’s plans, and what is in the Danish system said to have inspired it.
Read the full article here:
The key points in the Home Secretary’s asylum reform plans explained
Why the ECHR and its tone-deaf Strasbourg court need reining in
01:00 , Holly EvansThere is a delicious irony that one of the principal midwives of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, was profoundly conservative, and later one of the most reactionary post-war Home Secretaries, leading opposition to the Wolfenden Inquiry’s proposal to decriminalise gay sex between consenting adults.
Yet he played a central role in the fledgling Council of Europe, serving as rapporteur of the committee that drafted what became the ECHR, which came into force in 1953. The apparent contradiction in Fyfe’s positions is less striking than it seems.
The Convention was designed as a restatement of core liberties the British believed they already enjoyed, albeit uncodified and inchoate. Few on the left or right would quarrel with the Convention’s actual text.
For many continental states, emerging from tyranny and occupation, its articles became a template for modern statements of rights. But the UK resisted incorporation for decades on a bipartisan basis. The argument was simple: we already had these rights, incorporation would be an unnecessary, continental import.
Read the full analysis from former home secretary Jack Straw here:
Why the ECHR and its tone-deaf Strasbourg court need reining in
Starmer facing backlash from Labour MPs over ‘cruel’ asylum reforms
00:00 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer and his home secretary are facing an angry backlash over their plans to toughen up Britain’s asylum system, with Labour MPs describing the new rules as “repugnant” and “performatively cruel”.
Shabana Mahmood unveiled a raft of hardline measures on Monday aimed at discouraging asylum seekers and making it easier to remove those who have no right to remain in the country.
The prime minister said the current system was not designed to cope with a “more volatile and insecure” world – but Ms Mahmood’s announcement went much further than many in Labour had feared and is already facing resistance from backbenchers.
Read the full article here:
Starmer facing backlash from Labour MPs over ‘cruel’ asylum reforms
Home secretary says differences to Reform policies are like 'night and day'
23:00 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has rejected comparisons between the policies she has outlined today and Reform UK's stance on immigration, stating that they are like “night and day”.
She told Sky News: "I just do not accept that these are similar in any way. And that is because I think it is right that we move at the moment.
"Refugee status unlocks almost immediately automatic settlement. It is right that we move away from that process. It is right that we say to people, that if you arrive illegally in this country through a small boat, for example, that will be a difficult and long path to settlement in this country, and it will be regularly reviewed because we want to privilege people who come on a safe and legal route.
"It is the direct opposite of the 'oh, you know, draw up the drawbridge approach' that the Reform Party and others are taking.
"They're not interested in our international obligations of offering sanctuary to those most in need. I want to fulfil them."
New poll reveals almost half of voters want Starmer out by next election
22:42 , Holly EvansA damning new poll has indicated that almost half of all Labour voters want Sir Keir Starmer out of Downing Street by the next election.
The YouGov survey of 2,100 people found that 23 per cent of Labour voters think the prime minister should quit now and allow the party to elect a new leader while a further 22 per cent think he should stand down at some point before the next election.
Only a third, or 34 per cent, think he should continue to lead the Labour Party into the contest.
The results come after a difficult week for No10 after they insisted that the prime minister would fight any plans to oust him, with anonymous briefings suggesting health secretary Wes Streeting planned to do so.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Starmer vowed that he would lead Labour into the next election and attacked the speculation around his future.
Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson can 'sod off', says Mahmood
22:23 , Holly EvansThe home secretary has said that Nigel Farage can "sod off" because she's "not interested in anything he's got to say" when questioned about his response to her asylum policy.
While the Reform UK leader has said he is “undecided” on whether to support Shabana Mahmood’s plans, he remarked that it seemed as if she was “auditioning” for a place in his party.
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Mahmood said: "I'm not going to let him live forever in my head.
"Just because he said something doesn't mean to say that I have to respond to it just because he's making mischief.
"The Reform Party currently has a policy to rip up indefinite leave to remain of those who have been long term settled in our country. That is immoral. It's deeply shameful, and it is the wrong policy."
Challenged about far-right activist Tommy Robinson's support for her reforms, the she responded: "He's a vile racist. He doesn't believe I'm English, and he hates Muslims. And I'm a very proud British and English Muslim.
"I honestly find it incredibly offensive that people quote me, a man who doesn't even think I belong in my own country.
"Frankly, he can sod off too."
Nigel Farage 'undecided' on whether to support Labour's asylum plans
21:45 , Holly EvansReform UK leader Nigel Farage says he is "undecided" on whether to support Shabana Mahmood’s asylum plans.
He told reporters: "I welcome the home secretary’s language. It sounds like she is auditioning for Reform. But I’ve got some very serious doubts whether any of it will make a difference.”
He added that he supports the ideas - "the things like visa bans, using our muscle is absolutely right".
On whether his party will support the legislation when it comes forward, he said: "It’s a big decision."
"I want to because Mahmood is saying the right things, on the other, all the while the ECHR is there, the big elephant is there in the room, I begin to say to myself 'what’s the point?' So I am undecided at this stage," he said.
Is Mahmood right to use Trump’s playbook to curb small boats – or playing straight into Nigel Farage’s hands?
21:30 , Holly EvansAre the wrong people applauding what the home secretary Shabana Mahmood calls the “most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation”?
Nigel Farage, perhaps a little mischievously, says that she “sounds like a Reform supporter”, albeit adding that the European Convention on Human Rights and her own unreliable backbenchers will thwart her plans.
In fact, Mahmood is talking about sanctions against certain countries – Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are named – that are reluctant to accept their returned citizens. And there is every reason to suppose that Mahmood will do what she has promised to do – “whatever it takes” as she presses on with her programme.
Read the full analysis from Sean O’Grady here:
Is Mahmood right to use Trump’s playbook to curb small boats?
Home Office figures show over 111,00 applied for asylum to June 2025
21:10 , Holly EvansThe latest Home Office figures show 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025.
This is the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
A contributing factor has been the continued flow of small boats across the English Channel, with almost 40,000 people making the crossing so far in 2025.
Home Office 'exploring' whether asylum seekers could be subject to student loan style scheme
20:50 , Holly EvansThe Commons Home Affairs Committee chairwoman has asked whether asylum seekers could pay back the UK’s “generosity” through a student loans-style scheme.
Dame Karen Bradley, the Conservative MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, asked whether the Government had considered “setting up a deferred payment scheme, much akin to the student loans scheme, so that people when they are granted asylum and are in work can start to pay back the generosity they’ve received”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood replied: “It is something that we are currently exploring.
“It is not part of the package of measures today, but I’ll happily update the House in due course.”
People smuggler crackdown feels out of date, say Tories amid asylum overhaul
20:30 , Holly EvansA move to combat people smugglers bringing migrants across the English Channel “feels out of date before it has even become law”, according to Tory critics as the Home Secretary unveiled plans to toughen up the asylum system.
Conservative frontbencher Lord Cameron of Lochiel made his comments as the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, cleared the House of Lords.
The third reading of the legislation coincided with Shabana Mahmood announcing reforms aimed at deterring illegal migration to the UK.
Outlining steps to tighten up the asylum rules, the Labour Cabinet minister said the current system was “out of control and unfair”.
Speaking as the legislation was given its third reading, Lord Cameron said: “We know that the Government are now bringing forward new measures relating to the asylum system.”
He added: “The point is that events have moved at such a pace that this Bill feels out of date before it has even become law.
“The Prime Minister’s ‘smash the gangs’ pledge has fallen so flat that the Government appear to have ditched the slogan. But as we have consistently said, simply going after the gangs will not work. What is required is a credible deterrent.”
Kemi Badenoch repeats offer to 'work with' the Conservatives
20:13 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has said that Labour’s backbenchers are already lining up to block Shabana Mahmood’s asylum plan, and reiterated her offer to work with the Conservatives.
She said: “Without leaving the ECHR, Shabana Mahmood's plan won’t work. Parts of it may even take us backwards. She's proposed a few welcome steps, but they’re still baby steps.
“So here’s our offer: the country wants this sorted now. Sit down with us, drop the party politics, and let’s find a way of working together. Because her own MPs are already gearing up to block her.”
Without leaving the ECHR, Shabana Mahmood's plan won’t work. Parts of it may even take us backwards. She's proposed a few welcome steps, but they’re still baby steps.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 17, 2025
So here’s our offer: the country wants this sorted now. Sit down with us, drop the party politics, and let’s…
Mahmood asks MPs not to continue mentioning Tommy Robinson
19:58 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has asked MPs to not mention Tommy Robinson, stating that she finds it “very offensive”.
After an MP mentions the far-right activist, the home secretary responds: "I would just ask for people, please don't keep repeating the name of a man who doesn't even think I'm English.
"I find that very offensive and I would just ask everyone to refrain from doing so. We don't need to do that, and we do not need to go there. Don't fall for the mischief that others are making here.
Green Party leader calls on voters to 'Reject the hate'
19:41 , Holly EvansThe leader of the Green Party has described Labour’s sweeping asylum changes as “cruel” and “callous”.
Zack Polanski wrote on social media: “Cruel. Callous. Cowardly. The public are seeing this Labour government for exactly who they are.
“We all have a responsibility to make them pay at the ballot box. Reject the hate. Reject them. This is not who we are.
“Let's make hope normal again.”
Cruel. Callous. Cowardly.
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) November 17, 2025
The public are seeing this Labour government for exactly who they are.
We all have a responsibility to make them pay at the ballot box.
Reject the hate. Reject them.
This is not who we are. Let's make hope normal again.https://t.co/0qbagSvIYp https://t.co/ccKIOeqarg
Jeremy Corbyn accused Mahmood of trying 'to appease ghastly right-wing racist forces'
19:32 , Holly EvansJeremy Corbyn has claimed that history will be a “harsh judge” on the government, and that Labour are trying to appease “the most ghastly right-wing racist forces”.
The former Labour leader said: “She [Mahmood] is instead trying to appease the most ghastly Right-wing racist forces all across Europe and by walking away from the European Convention on Human Rights, a convention created by the post-war Labour government.
“Does she not recognise that history is going to be a harsh judge on this Government for undermining the whole global humanitarian principles behind the ECHR and the universal declaration of human rights?”
Mahmood said she was “mystified” by Mr Corbyn’s question, and suggested he had not read the Home Office’s policies.
'Over my dead body' Mahmood responds over offer to join Reform
19:09 , Holly EvansDanny Kruger, who defected to Reform in September from the Tories, has mockingly invited Shabana Mahmood to join the party.
The MP, who until September sat as a Tory MP, tells Shabana Mahmood that he "very much welcomes" her to put "in her application to join Reform" following her asylum reforms.
Noting that he failed to ask her a question, she responded: "As for his invitation to join his party, of whom there appear to be hardly any over there [on the benches of the Commons], let me tell him: over my dead body."
Green Party MP says policy is 'boosting far-right narrative'
19:01 , Holly EvansA Green Party MP has accused Labour of trying to “out-Reform Reform” and boosting a “far-right narrative”.
Carla Denyer said: “It isn’t people seeking sanctuary that are tearing our country apart.
“It is toxic, racist narratives, and the scapegoating of migrants and asylum seekers for what is nothing to do with them.
“The chronic housing crisis, the running down of public services are not caused by migrants, they are caused by political decisions and by the grotesque inequality in this country.
“Does the secretary of state understand that attempting to out-Reform Reform is just boosting this far right narrative and will deepen divisions?”
Mahmood replied by suggesting that Green Party MPs are “hypocrites” for their comments in the Commons, but then “opposing accommodation in their own constituencies”.
Mahmood tells Labour critic: 'We will never seize jewellery'
18:54 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has vowed the Government “never will seize people’s jewellery at the border”, as she faced a question from a Labour critic.
Sarah Owen, the Labour MP for Luton North, told the Commons: “I hope that we could all agree that a strong immigration system doesn’t have to be a cruel one. When the Tories painted over murals for refugee children, the numbers of small boat crossings still went up. When they threatened deportations to Rwanda, guess what, the crossings still went up.
“So what evidence does the Secretary of State have that taking personal belongings, such as jewellery from refugees and selling it off, actually works as a deterrent?”
The Home Secretary replied: “We are not taking jewellery at the border. I can’t say it any more clearly than that. She will know that the example I have used in my speech, the sort of case we’re going after, is those who have assets, those who have access to money and who can afford quite expensive cars, who should make a contribution to the cost of what is currently free asylum support.
“These two things are not the same, and I would urge her not to conflate the two. We will not – and never will – seize people’s jewellery at the border.
“We’re not going after their sentimental items like wedding rings and so on.”
Ms Owen had earlier written on the social media site Bluesky that “repugnant ‘deterrents’ did not work for the Tories, and they won’t work for” Labour.
Watch: Mahmood swears in Commons as she says she has been a victim of racial slurs
18:53 , Holly EvansMahmood hits out at suggestion of Tommy Robinson's support
18:49 , Holly EvansThe home secretary has rebuffed an accusation that her new policy has “found favour” with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, stating that he “doesn’t even think I am English”.
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “In their manifesto, Labour promised to defend the rights of migrants and build an immigration system based on compassion and dignity.
“Instead we have a policy that is welcomed by Reform UK and that even found favour with Tommy Robinson.
“From throwing refugees into destitution to denying any meaningful route to citizenship, where is the compassion and dignity in that?”
Mahmood replied: “I can assure him that given that Tommy Robinson doesn’t even think I am English, he will certainly not be supporting anything I have got to say.
“We don’t need to hear any more about what vile racists have to say about anything.”
UK Border Force former director says he is not 'particularly optimistic' over plans
18:40 , Holly EvansThe former director-general of UK Border Force has said he’s not “particularly optimistic” about the government’s plans to overhaul the asylum system.
Tony Smith, who worked for more than 40 years with the Home Office, told Times Radio: “The Tories tried quite hard with the Illegal Migration Act, the Safety of Rwanda Act, but we saw what happened. It took two or three years of challenges in the courts and the Lords, and they never got it off the ground. The same may well apply to this.
“I think there will be political opposition to this. There’ll certainly be opposition from community groups who think this is too harsh. Some on the left of the Labour Party won’t like it.”
He added: “Ultimately, I think it’s inevitable there will be challenges in the courts, which may slow this one up as well. So I’m afraid I can’t be particularly optimistic it’s going to solve the problem.”
ECHR Article 3 has 'expanded into the realm of the ridiculous', Mahmood says
18:34 , Holly EvansThe European Convention on Human Rights is preventing the UK from deporting criminals to countries where the prison cells are too small, the Home Secretary has said.
Shabana Mahmood told the Commons the application of the definition of degrading treatment under Article Three of the ECHR has “expanded into the realm of the ridiculous”.
She said: “Today we have criminals we seek to deport but discover we cannot because the prisons in their home country have cells that are deemed too small, or even mental health provision that is not as good as our own.
“As Article Three is an absolute right, a public interest test cannot be applied.
“For that reason, we are seeking reform at the Council of Europe, and we do so alongside international partners who have raised similar concerns.”
Mahmood apologises for swearing in indignant response to Lib Dems
18:28 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has issued an indignant response to Max Wilkinson MP from the Liberal Democrats, who suggested she was “stoking the public by using immoderate language”.
The home secretary said: “Unlike him, unfortunately I am the one who is regularly called a f****** P*** and told to go back home.
“I know through my own experience and the experience of my constituents just how divisive asylum has become in our country.”
“I wish I could pretend that it was not an issue. But this system is broken and it is incumbent on all members to acknowledge the real experience of people lived outside this House.”
She was asked to apologise by the Speaker for her “unacceptable language”.
Mahmood says Labour 'will not be taking any lessons' from the Tories
18:15 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has criticised the Tories for their record, claiming Labour had turned it around after Badenoch’s party “gave up on governing altogether”.
She said: “We will not be taking any lessons from the party opposite. They gave up on making asylum decisions.
The home secretary stressed that removals are up 23 per cent in the first year of Labour’s time in government, and said that instead the Tories spent their time on an “expensive gimmick” with the Rwanda scheme.
Home secretary vows to end 'merry-go-round of claims and appeals'
18:11 , Holly EvansAsylum seekers will have “just one opportunity” to make their claim, and one to appeal, Shabana Mahmood has said, “ending the merry-go-round of claims and appeals that frustrate so many removals”.
The Home Secretary told MPs: “In March of this year, the appeals backlog stood at 51,000 cases.
“This Government has already increased judicial sitting days, but reform is required, so we will create a new appeals body staffed by professional independent adjudicators.
“And we will ensure there is early legal representation available to advise claimants and ensure their issues are properly considered.
“Cases with a low chance of success will be fast-tracked, and claimants will have just one opportunity to claim and one to appeal, ending the merry-go-round of claims and appeals that frustrate so many removals.”
Government will enforce returns for Albanian families if necessary
18:07 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has vowed to enforce the removal of families to Albania.
The Home Secretary told the Commons: “These measures are designed to tackle the pull factors that draw people into this country, but reducing the number of arrivals is just half of the story. We must also enforce our rules and remove those who have no right to be here.
“This will mean restarting removals to countries where they have been paused. In recent months, we have begun voluntary removal of failed asylum seekers to Syria once again, however, there are still many failed asylum seekers here from Syria, most of whom fled a regime that has since been toppled.”
Ms Mahmood said the Government would “continue to explore the possibility of return hubs”.
She added that there were “around 700 Albanian families living in taxpayer-funded accommodation having failed their asylum claims”.
She said: “This is true despite an existing returns agreement and that Albania is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). So, we will now begin the removal of families. Where possible, we will encourage a voluntary return, but where an enforced return is necessary, that is what we will do.”
Kemi Badenoch says Mahmood will need Tory votes to get asylum measure through
18:05 , Holly EvansThe Tory leader has made “a genuine offer” to work with Labour home secretary Shabana Mahmood to get through the controversial asylum measures.
Kemi Badenoch suggested that she “suspects” that the Labour MPs “behind her will vote it down”.
She raises the welfare rebellion and points out that Labour MPs forced Keir Starmer to abandon £5bn of benefits cuts. “From what I can see his grip on the party has not got any stronger,” she added.
Tory leader says it is a 'shame' that Labour has taken a year in office to realise crisis
18:02 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has also agreed with Mahmood that the system is "not fair on British citizens".
She added: "Anyone who cannot see by now the simply tinkering with the current system isn't going to fix this problem is either living in la la land, or being wilfully obstructive.
"It is a shame that it has taken Labour a year in office to realise there is a border crisis.
"I am afraid to tell her the what she is announcing is not going to work on its own, and some of these measures will in fact take us backwards.
"I say that to her with no ill will, and I hope she believes me when I say I genuinely want her to succeed."
She also says the Tories are "not going to take any lectures from the people who voted down every single measure to control immigration".
Kemi Badenoch praises Mahmood's 'fresh energy and a clearer focus'
17:58 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has praised Shabana Mahmood for “bringing fresh energy and a clearer focus” to her new asylum policy.
She added: “She seems to get what many of us on the benches behind refuse to accept.
“She's right to say that 'if we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people to a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred'."
The Tory leader acknowledged she had done more in less than three months than her predecessor Yvette Cooper had in more than a year.
Mahmood says current asylum system is making UK 'a divided place'
17:54 , Holly EvansAnnouncing proposed changes to the asylum system in the Commons on Monday, she said: ““The pace and scale of change has destabilised communities, it is making our country a more divided place.
“There will never be a justification for the violence and racism of a minority, but if we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred.
“I have no doubt about who we really are in this country.
“We are open, tolerant and generous, but the public rightly expects that we can determine who enters this country and who must leave.”
Watch: Mahmood vows to restore order and control to the border as she unveils major asylum reforms
17:52 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood raises permanent residency wait to 20 years
17:46 , Holly EvansRefugees arriving illegally will have to wait up to 20 years before they qualify for permanent residence, the home secretary has announced.
This an increase of four times from the current timeframe of five years.
Asylum system feels 'out of control and unfair', says Mahmood
17:45 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood is outlining her reforms to the asylum system, saying that she is introducing them because the "world is a more volatile and more mobile place".
She told MPs that while some of those coming to the UK illegally are genuine refugees, "others are economic migrants seeking to use and abuse our asylum system".
She says: "The burden that has fallen on this country has been heavy.
"400,000 have sought asylum here in the last four years. Over 100,000 people now live in asylum accommodation, and over half of refugees remain on benefits eight years after they have arrived.
"To the British public who foot the bill, the system feels out of control and unfair."
Home secretary says Tories left them with 'grotesque chaos'
17:44 , Holly EvansShabana Mahmood has criticised the previous Conservative government for leaving Labour with a “dreadful inheritance” in dealing with the asylum system.
She took aim at the “lamentable” failed Rwanda scheme, which cost the taxpayer £700m but only saw a few volunteers leave the country.
To much jeering, she described the situation as “grotesque chaos” and praised Sir Keir Starmer for his one-in-one-out deal with France.
Home secretary begins speech
17:38 , Holly EvansThe home secretary Shabana Mahmood has begun her speech to the House of Commons, outlying the sweeping changes the government are introducing to the asylum system.
Live: Mahmood details asylum plan as Labour backlash grows
17:30 , Holly EvansNew AI age-detecting tool to stop migrants falsely claiming to be children
17:28 , Holly EvansA new AI age-estimating tool will be introduced in a bit to stop adult migrants falsely claiming to be children to secure asylum.
The document says that “artificial intelligence technology” can help to “block vexatious claims”.
“Early assessment suggests that Facial Age Estimation is effective and could produce workable results much quicker than other potential methods, such as bone X-rays or MRI scans, and at a fraction of the cost.
“In early September 2025, we issued a procurement process to pursue Facial Age Estimation technology.”
Countries expected to take back failed asylum seekers - or face penalties
17:23 , Alex RossAs reported earlier, Angola, Namibia and Democratic Republic of Congo will face visa penalties if they fail to cooperate on taking failed asylum seekers back to the the country.
In this afternoon’s document, it states: “We expect all countries to take back their citizens who have no right to be in the UK.
“This includes providing travel documents within a reasonable time period. While many countries are fully co-operative with returns arrangements, others delay doing so for months or even years. Some fail to cooperate at all.”
Visa penalties could include suspending the granting of entry clearance for nationals of a country until it takes back its citizens who are in the UK illegally.
What does the document say about seizing jewellery?
17:22 , Holly EvansThe sweeping changes to the asylum system will require individuals to contribute financially if they have assets and valuables.
The notion that the government could collect jewellery from refugees has been criticised by Labour backbenchers, with borders minister Alex Norris insisting that they would not be taking “family heirlooms”.
The document reads: “In addition, we will require individuals to contribute towards the cost of their asylum support where they have some assets or income, but not enough to support themselves independently. We will also take action to recover support costs in scenarios where any assets are not convertible into cash or declared at the point that asylum support is initially provided but become convertible or are discovered at a later date.”
Mr Norris told Times Radio: “The British taxpayer subsidises bed-and-board and support for individuals to the tune of multiple billions of pounds every year.
“It is right if people have assets that they should contribute to them.”
He added: “There’s an individual, for example, who’s getting £800 a month from outside the country, who’s just picked himself up an Audi. If people have cars, if they have e-bikes, they should be making a contribution to their support.
“We will not be taking family heirlooms off individuals. Of course we’re not going to do that.”
Overseas 'return hubs' for failed asylum seekers on the table
17:10 , Alex RossEarlier this year, Home Office officials took part in discussions on creating overseas “return hubs” to house asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected, after all appeals have been exhausted.
In this afternoon’s publication, there is one paragraph on the idea signalling the Labour government’s plan to explore it, with negotiations said to be taking place with a number of countries.
It reads: “We will continue to explore the use of “return hubs” which are safe third countries that failed asylum seekers can be sent to instead of their country of origin.”
It is understood that the idea would involve payments made to host countries for each person removed from the UK.
Shabana Mahmood says UK will take a 'more hard-headed approach' to remove failed asylum seekers
16:57 , Holly EvansThe Home Secretary said the UK was viewed by asylum seekers as a more attractive destination than other European nations.
She said: “While some are genuine refugees, others are economic migrants, seeking to take advantage of the asylum system. Even amongst those who are genuine refugees, economic incentives are at play.
“Instead of stopping at the first safe country even genuine refugees are searching for the most attractive place to seek refuge, many now ‘asylum shop’ their way across the continent, in search of the most attractive place to seek refuge.”
She described the impact on the UK as “profound” and that the “pace and scale of change has destabilised communities”.
She said: “When an asylum seeker has failed in their claim, we will take a far more hard-headed approach to removing them. We will remove people we have not removed before, including families who have a safe home country they can return to.
“We will remove people to countries where we have, until recently, paused returns. We will reform an asylum appeals system that sometimes seems designed to help frustrate a legitimate removal. And it means tackling a thicket of laws that have achieved the same end, both international and domestic.
Cap on arrivals to UK through safe and legal routes
16:56 , Alex RossOn Sunday, ahead of the release of the policy on the asylum system, Shabana Mahmood, writing for The Guardian, referred to a part of the plan that will allow safe and legal routes for "genuine refugees".
As part of the new model, as seen in this afternoon's government publication, such routes will remain open, as Ms Mahmood said, but under an annual cap on the number of arrivals.
The restriction in numbers will be based on the "capacity and ability of communities to welcome refugees", the document states.
It continues: "We will prioritise global resettlement, particularly individuals identified by referral partners such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)."
The document also states that communities will have a greater say on who the UK supports.
Backlash expected over removal of families
16:50 , Holly EvansThe home secretary has announced changes to the way in which families who have failed with their asylum application, saying that there has been “hesitancy” around this in the past.
The document reads: “We do not currently prioritise the return of families. As a result, many families of failed asylum seekers continue to live in this country, receiving free accommodation and financial support, for years on end. Our hesitancy around returning families creates particularly perverse incentives.
“To some, the personal benefit of placing a child on a dangerous small boat outweighs the considerable risks of doing so.”
It added that once in the UK, asylum seekers are able to “exploit” that they have had children and established roots in order to “thwart their removal”.
The government cites around 700 Albanian families whose asylum claims have been rejected but their removal has not been enforced by the Home Office, despite the country having a goldstandard of cooperation with the UK on returns.
It reads: “The government will offer all families financial support to enable them to return to their home country. Should they refuse that support, we will escalate to an enforced return. We will launch a consultation on the process for enforcing the removal of families, including children.”
Home Office publishes proposed changes to asylum system
16:37 , Holly EvansThe Home Office has just published its policy proposals for the UK's asylum and returns.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood sets out that the impact of the current system on the country is "profound".
"Over 100,000 people now live in asylum accommodation, funded by the taxpayer. Many refugees remain unemployed several years after being granted protection, depending on taxpayer funded benefits to live in the UK.
"This must change," she says.
Introducing the policy paper, named "Restoring Order and Control, Sir Keir Starmer says: "If we want to see fewer channel crossings, less exploitation and a fairer system with safe and legal routes, we need an approach with a stronger deterrent effect and rules that are robustly enforced."
We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates.
Asylum reforms could see refugees returned to Syria
16:23 , Holly EvansRefugees may be forced to return to countries such as Syria as part of asylum reforms to make refugee status in the UK temporary.
The plans are outlined in a Government document “Restoring Order and Control” detailing ways to overhaul the asylum system before the Home Secretary’s statement to the House of Commons.
The policy document said should there be a regime change in a refugee’s home country, the UK’s approach should change too.
A number of Syrian people have been supported to return to their home country on a voluntary basis since the end of the Assad regime, the document said.
“We are now exploring resuming enforced returns to countries where we have not routinely carried out such removals in recent years, including to Syria,” it said.
Families with children could also be subject to enforced returns under the measures, and the Government is launching a consultation on how that should be done.
Starmer says 'world has changed' as border control needed to 'maintain confidence'
16:14 , Holly EvansIn a foreword to the government’s asylum and returns policy, Sir Keir Starmer said that the asylum system was not designed to cope with “increased conflict leading to a significant increase in the movement of people across the globe”.
Stating that it has created a “severe strain” on our asylum system, the prime minister said that demonstrating control at our borders is an “essential task” of government and of “maintaining confidence” in UK values.
He said: “It starts with a simple premise. That there is nothing compassionate about allowing the vile trade in people-smuggling that perpetuates illegal migration to persist. This then leads to a conclusion that must be confronted. That the UK’s current asylum regime is a significant pull factor to that trade, more permissive than the European mainstream. Which then also creates a strong and perverse incentive for migrants who have arrived legally to switch into the asylum system once here.
“The case for reform is then devastatingly simple. That if we want to see fewer channel crossings, less exploitation and a fairer system with safe and legal routes, we need an approach with a stronger deterrent effect and rules that are robustly enforced.”
Shabana Mahmood goes much further with attack on family life than expected
15:57 , Holly EvansOur political editor David Maddox reports:
Documents just published by the Home Office have revealed that the home secretary Shabana Mahmood has gone much further in watering down the right to a family life than expected.
It was well known that Ms Mahmood wanted to water down the human rights convention Article 8 right to a family life but her policy paper reveals that she intends to significantly reduce rights in this area.
This includes ending the right to reunited with family. This measure was used by Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs in ensuring children seeking asylum could be reunited with their families.
The paper notes that pathways for unaccompanied children, families with children, and other vulnerable asylum seekers will be reviewed. They also plan to end indefinite support for families who do not cooperate with returns.
Other measures including reducing the initial leave to remain from five years to 30 months only to be renewed if protection is still needed.
Ms Mahmood also wants to end the duty by the government to provide support for destitute asylum seekers. Added to that anyone who came to the UK on a visa and went home for a period will lose the right to claim asylum.
Watch: Home secretary Shabana Mahmood defends 'dystopian' asylum plans
15:52 , Holly EvansTommy Robinson backs Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms
15:47 , Holly EvansTommy Robinson has welcomed the government’s sweeping reforms to the asylum system, sparking concern from Labour backbenchers.
Shabana Mahmood is set to rewrite how Britain grants refuge to those fleeing conflict and upheaval with a statement in the House of Commons on Monday – an overhaul she insisted is needed because the “pace and scale of change destabilised communities”.
The Home Office has billed the reforms, inspired by a strict approach taken by Denmark, as being the “biggest changes to the asylum system in modern times”.
Welcoming the proposals, the far-right activist posted to social media: “The Overton window has been obliterated, well done patriots.”
The Overton window refers to the spectrum of ideas on public policy and social issues considered acceptable by the general public at a given time.
Read the full article here:
Jeremy Corbyn says plans to seize jewellery from refugees 'absolutely disgusting'
15:40 , Holly EvansFormer Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised plans to confiscate jewellery and valuables belonging to refugees in order to pay for accommodation and other costs as part of sweeping reforms to the asylum system.
He said: “Labour won't redistribute wealth from billionaires. But they will seize belongings from those fleeing war and persecution.
“Absolutely disgusting. Asylum seekers are human beings — and they deserve to live in dignity just like anybody else.”
Mahmood defends 'dystopian' asylum plans
15:05 , Athena StavrouThe Home Secretary has defended the Government’s asylum reform plans after a Labour MP branded them “dystopian”.
Speaking during Home Office questions in the Commons on Monday, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said: “The Denmark-style policies briefed in the last couple of days are dystopian.
“It’s shameful that a Labour Government is ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Is this how we’d want to be treated if we were fleeing for our lives? Of course, not.
“How can we be adopting such obviously cruel policies? Is the Home Secretary proud that the Government has sunk such that it is now being praised by Tommy Robinson?”
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, insisted her plans could unite “a divided country” and fix the asylum system.
She said: “I’m disappointed at the nature of the question from my friend. I hope she will look at the detail of the reforms, and what I’ve said already on these matters is that we have a problem, that it is our moral duty to fix, our asylum system is broken. The breaking of that asylum system is causing huge division across our whole country.”
Why the ECHR and its tone-deaf Strasbourg court need reining in
14:56 , Athena StavrouAs Shabana Mahmood announces a new migration crackdown, it is time to look again at the UK’s relationship with the ECHR, writes former home secretary Jack Straw.
The Strasbourg court is guilty of overreach – and the UK must reassert its domestic authority:
Why the ECHR and its tone-deaf Strasbourg court need reining in
Badenoch offers Starmer Tory backing for migrants crackdown
14:18 , Jane DaltonKemi Badenoch has offered Conservative support for the government’s asylum reforms amid opposition from Labour backbenchers.
The Tory leader told the PA news agency: “What we are seeing from the Labour government is steps in the right direction, so we want to encourage them in that right direction.
“Of course, we have a fully comprehensive borders plan. Some of what we have seen Labour announce is similar but not as much as what we have done.
“We can see that their Labour backbenchers don’t like this, so I have offered that we will support the government in going in the right direction.”
No 10 denies Labour 'chasing' Reform
14:05 , Jane DaltonThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The prime minister's official spokesperson has denied the government is talking the language of Reform UK, instead arguing it is "responding to the mandate we’ve been given".
Asked whether the government was talking the language of Reform, the Downing Street spokesperson said: "No, we are talking the language of dealing with an asylum system that is in chaos.
"We are setting out clear plans to make it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to Britain, to make it easier to remove migrants from British soil .. and make sure this country can maintain its proud tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing genuine danger."
He added: "We are responding to the mandate we’ve been given and the public can tell that the pace and scale of illegal migration is out of control, unfair and placing huge pressure on communities.
"The prime minister wants to fix the chaos in the asylum system to move away from division and decline."
Asylum proposals 'common sense', says PM after Tommy Robinson backing
14:00 , Jane DaltonThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The prime minister's official spokesperson has refused to say whether he is happy that Tommy Robinson has welcomed the government's sweeping asylum reforms, insisting the proposals are "common sense plans to restore control and order to our borders".
Backing the government's proposals, the far-right campaigner had said: "Well done patriots".
Asked whether the prime minister was happy that Robinson welcomed the plans, his official spokesperson told reporters: "For too long Britain has lived with an asylum system that is broken... The broken system undermined trust and left genuine refugees trapped in limbo, which is not fair on anyone involved.
“This government has been fixing the mess we inherited".
Pressed on whether Sir Keir Starmer was happy to have the backing of the far right, the official added: "As I say, the public can tell the pace and scale of illegal migration is out of control, unfair and placing huge pressure on communities. We are an open, tolerant and generous country, but we must restore order and control.
"These are comprehensive and common sense plans to restore control and order to our borders."
Watch: Mahmood to announce reform on application of ECHR right to family life
13:53 , Joe MiddletonDowning Street dismisses accusations it is 'chasing hard-right voters'
12:44 , Athena StavrouDowning Street denied that the Government was “chasing hard-right voters” with its plans to overhaul the asylum system.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “This is a policy that we believe reflects the mandate we have been given to secure our borders and deal with the asylum system that we’ve inherited.”
Asked whether it was chasing the hard-right, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We are responding to the mandate we have been given and the public can tell that the pace and scale of illegal migration is out of control, unfair and placing huge pressure on communities.
“And the prime minister wants to fix the chaos in the asylum system so we can move away from division and decline and build a Britain for all.”
Asked whether the Government was “talking the language of Reform”, he added: “No, we are talking the language of dealing with an asylum system that is in chaos.”
Mahmood 'talking language of Reform', Richard Tice says
12:35 , Athena StavrouReform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has said the Government may need his party’s support for their plans to toughen up the asylum system.
Mr Tice, speaking at a press conference in Westminster, said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is “beginning to sound as though she’s sort of bringing an application to join Reform”.
He said Ms Mahmood has not got the “support and confidence” of Labour MPs, adding she is “talking the language of concerned Reform voters” after her comments about illegal migration tearing the UK apart.
Asked directly if Reform UK will vote for the proposals if they are tabled, he went on: “Let’s see what is brought forward. I mean, who knows?
“She might need our support to get it through.”
Charities warn reforms pose 'serious risk' to wellbeing of asylum seekers
12:20 , Athena StavrouAlongside Labour MPs, charities are also criticising the government’s planned reforms.
The Mental Health Foundation has warned the changes will “pose a serious risk to the mental health and wellbeing of asylum seekers”
“The idea that to we need to take draconian measures, like limiting the human right to a family life, or restricting some refugees to only temporary protection, is based on a falsehood that says we can’t create an asylum system that is both efficient and humane,” Oliver Chantler, head of policy and public affairs at the charity said.
“The reality is that it is fully within the UK government’s power to make our asylum system better for taxpayers and asylum seekers alike, without resorting to cruelty.
He added: “Keeping families apart and subjecting refugees to constant reminders that they could be sent home as and when the government chooses will only deepen isolation and worsen trauma - making refugees’ integration into British society far more difficult.”
Another Labour MP voices scathing opinion on government's reforms
11:52 , Athena StavrouMore Labour MPs are joining those voicing concern about the government’s new asylum plans.
Stroud MP Simon Opher took to Facebook to say Labour should “push back on the racist agenda of Reform rather than echo it”.
“We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel. Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities,” he said.
“And over all this, our focus needs to be tackling inequality: housing, the economy, education, health and all those other areas where we know that we can make a real difference to people's lives. Failing to deliver there is what leads to people looking for scapegoats and being persuaded by the dangerous rhetoric of those who don't care about equality or improving the life chances of ordinary working people.
“That's why I came into politics, it's why I'm a Labour MP and it's why we elected our Labour government last year.”
What changes is the Government making?
11:30 , Athena Stavrou• Human rights law will be overhauled to prevent it from being used to frustrate deportations. New legislation will be brought forward to ensure article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to family life) is balanced against the public interest.
• Refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review. Refugees will be removed as soon as their home countries are deemed safe. The wait for permanent settlement will be quadrupled to 20 years.
• Those who have a right to work in the UK and can support themselves, but do not, could also be denied housing and benefits because of the change, as could lawbreakers.
• New safe and legal routes to the UK will be introduced as a way to cut dangerous journeys in small boats across the English Channel.
• Local communities will be able to sponsor individual refugees in a model similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, in which people hosted those in need in their homes.
• Failed asylum seekers will also be limited to make one appeal against their removal, instead of having the ability to make multiple challenges on different grounds.
• Shabana Mahmood will revoke the legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, introduced in 2005 via EU law. This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers.
Jewellery and valuables belonging to refugees could be confiscated to pay for accommodation
11:15 , Athena StavrouJewellery and valuables belonging to refugees could be confiscated in order to pay for accommodation and other costs as part of sweeping reforms to the asylum system, a Home Office minister has said.
Alex Norris said it is “right that if people have money in the bank, if people have assets… they should be contributing”, but he insisted that the government would not be taking “family heirlooms” off people arriving in Britain.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Jewellery and valuables belonging to refugees could be seized to pay for housing
Pictured: Starmer meets with apprentices in Downing Street
11:05 , Athena Stavrou
Labour group brand plans as 'divisive and xenophobic'
10:57 , Athena StavrouA left wing Labour group have condemned the government’s asylum plans as “divisive and xenophobic”.
Momentum wrote on X: “The Home Secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.
“Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity. The Government must fundamentally change course. Refugees are welcome here.”
The Home Secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.
— Momentum 🌹 (@PeoplesMomentum) November 17, 2025
Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.
The Government must fundamentally change course. Refugees are welcome here.
Diane Abbott criticises 'truly frightening' proposals
10:46 , Athena StavrouVeteran MP Diane Abbott has criticised the government’s “truly frightening” asylum proposals today.
Referring to some of the legal changes the home secretary is planning to make, Ms Abbott said: “Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:
“Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers.
“Overriding it if the risks of violence are greater is a mob's charter. Watering down the Modern Slavery Act. Awful.”
Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) November 17, 2025
Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers.
Overriding it if the risks of violence are greater is a mob's charter.
Watering down the Modern Slavery Act. Awful. pic.twitter.com/7DSyz0jlu4
Growing criticism from Labour MPs on asylum reforms
10:24 , Athena StavrouThe government is facing growing criticism from backbench MPs as the home secretary unveils sweeping plans to overhaul the UK’s asylum system.
A number of Labour MPs have expressed their opposition to the planned reforms, which will see the government overhaul human rights laws in a bid to ramp up deportations.
Kent MP and former immigration lawyer Tony Vaughan has said ministers’ rhetoric “encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities”.
Other backbenchers backed Mr Vaughan’s comments, with one saying the government’s policy was “incoherent” and another warning “performative cruelty” would undermine efforts to solve problems in the immigration system.
One Labour MP accused the party leadership of “chasing Reform”. They told The Independent: “The dehumanisation of people in desperation is the antithesis of what the Labour Party is about.”
Asylum seekers to have some assets seized to pay for accommodation
10:05 , Athena StavrouA government minister has outlined how asylum seekers could have some of their assets seized to contribute to the cost of supporting them.
Borders minister Alex Norris Norris said it was “right if people have assets that they should contribute” to asylum costs, if for example they had expensive cars or “bags full of gold rings”.
He told Times Radio: “There’s an individual, for example, who’s getting £800 a month from outside the country, who’s just picked himself up an Audi. If people have cars, if they have e-bikes, they should be making a contribution to their support.”
He stressed however that people would not have family heirlooms such as wedding rings removed and told Sky News: “What we're saying, though, [is] if someone comes over with a bag full of gold rings, well that's different to, as I say, a family heirloom or personal items.”
Shabana Mahmood 'highly likely to be the next Labour leader' if she succeeds in asylum reforms, says Labour MP
09:52 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Shabana Mahmood is “highly likely to be the next leader of the Labour Party” if her sweeping reforms to the asylum system succeed, a Labour backbencher has said.
The MP, who spoke anonymously, told The Independent that the new home secretary has "grasped two out of the three things required - she has diagnosed the problem, she has communicated the anger, the politics and the solution".
But they said the "missing third" is the solution working, adding: "Only time will tell. We now need to frame the Tories as the party who caused the fire, the Reform party who don’t really want the fire to go out and the left wing protest parties saying there isn’t a fire".
They continued: "If all this comes together - she is highly likely to be the next leader of the Labour Party… but… can the useless Home Office actually deliver?"
What is happening in politics today?
09:41 , Athena StavrouIt’s a busy start to the week in politics, with lots of detail and reaction from the government’s new immigration proposals.
At 10am, the prime minister will be holding a Q&A session in Downing Street with apprentices.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the south east this morning also.
At 11am, we’re expected a Reform UK press conference.
The afternoon will see plenty of discussion about the asylum overhaul.
At 2:30pm there will be Home Office questions in the Commons before Shabana Mahmood makes a statement in the chamber at around 3:30pm.
Mahmood makes an example of three African countries with visa ban to warn the others
09:27 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
The visa bans for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo may seem to be random given that many on the small boats are coming from the Middle East.
In a new set of hard line policies the targeting of three unstable African countries wracked by recent wars may look like dog whistling to satisfy the right.
But what the home secretary Shabana Mahmood is attempting to do is to essentially make an international example of these three to scare others into cooperating.
There is a major problem of people moving up from sub Saharan Africa and coming into Europe and to the UK.
For quite a while now UK governments have warned that there would be visa restrictions or bans for countries which did not take back illegal migrants. Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all been among the worst at doing that.
Now they are being punished for it in the hope that it will mean they and other countries where the flow of irregular migration is coming from will up their game and start taking people back.
Claims that asylum reforms would sow division are not fair, says Home Office minister
09:09 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Claims that the government's asylum reforms would sow division are not fair, a Home Office minister has said, arguing that the reforms are necessary to restore public confidence.
Asked whether he is concerned that the government's asylum reforms would encourage people to regard migrants with suspicion, Alex Norris told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “I don't think that's a fair characterisation at all and that is not the message that we're expressing. When you have low public confidence, that's when people start to make perhaps unfair or superficial assessments. If we restore order and control at our borders, it's the government's job to do it, then we can have the system we all want.”
Referring to criticism from Labour MP Tony Vaughan, Mr Norris added: "I know I want the same thing that Tony wants, which is a safe system, an ordered system, so people are coming in a controlled way, and is one that meets our decades long commitment as a generous, open tolerant country.”
He added: “We will always stand up for people who need that shelter when they're fleeing persecution... But to to have that system and to have the public confident in that system, you have to have controls at the border.”
Analysis: Shabana Mahmood takes centre stage in midst of Labour turmoil
08:55 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
When Keir Starmer did his reshuffle back in September the focus was mostly on the departure of Angela Rayner over her tax affairs but his most significant move was an almost complete overhaul of the Home Office.
Out went Yvette Cooper transferred to the Foreign Office and in came the much more robust, no nonsense Shabana Mahmood as home secretary.
She brought in with her a new attitude of taking on some of the issues which had been considered untouchable by Labour previously.
This included massively watering down human rights, especially the right to family life and the right to asylum to try to tackle the small boats crisis and illegal immigration.
But there is more to it than that.
With Labour in turmoil and Sir Keir’s own position very much in question, the promotion of Ms Mahmood has placed her as potentially the lead figure of the right of the Labour Party’s leadership candidate.
Some wondered why Morgan McSweeney, himself on the right of the party, had turned on Wes Streeting, the previous candidate for that wing, last week.
There is speculation now that he favours Mahmood.
This week she now has the chance to shine as Labour’s answer to the threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform, and as a potential leader in waiting.
Recap: Home secretary condemns ‘mortifying’ Labour leadership row as Rayner allies forced to deny new plot
08:40 , Namita SinghThe home secretary has condemned speculation around the Labour leadership as “deeply mortifying” as allies of Angela Rayner were forced to deny a bid to topple the prime minister, just days after the health secretary had to do the same.
Shabana Mahmood said the past week of Labour infighting has been “horribly embarrassing” as she called on ministers to “focus on the job” rather than engage in “tittle tattle”.
You can read the full story below...
Labour row condemned as ‘mortifying’ as Rayner allies forced to deny new plot
What you need to know this morning
08:35 , Athena StavrouIt’s been a busy start to the week in Westminster, as the government prepares to unveil it’s radical immigration reforms.
Here’s what you need to know this morning:
• The home secretary is set to overhaul human rights laws to make it easier to deport people.
• The government will try to change the way the ECHR is interpreted by UK judges to stop asylum seekers from using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
• Shabana Mahmood is also expected to ban three countries - Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo - from accessing UK visas if they fail to take back illegal migrants.
• The home secretary will deliver a statement in the Commons about the reform at 3:30pm.
• There has been discontent on the backbenches, with one Labour MP accusing the party leadership of “chasing Reform”.
• The Refugee Council, a charity advocating on behalf of refugees, warned that watering down these laws risks chaos and will drive desperate people underground, leaving them prone to exploitation.
• Conservative shadow home office minister Matt Vickers has said the Government’s asylum overhaul is “largely gimmicks”.
Reform to hold press conference
08:26 , Athena StavrouReform UK are set to hold a press conference this morning, as the government is accused of “chasing” them with their new immigration policies.
The right wing party will speak to media as the home secretary is due to unveil “sweeping” immigration reforms.
One Labour MP accusing the party leadership of “chasing Reform”.
They told The Independent: “The dehumanisation of people in desperation is the antithesis of what the Labour Party is about.”
Comment: Dare we go the full Danish and make Britain a ‘zero refugee’ zone?
08:20 , Namita SinghLeft-leaning but tough on migration, Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen has taken a hard line on asylum seekers that offers a blueprint for Shabana Mahmood’s shake-up at the Home Office – but, says Mary Dejevsky, she’ll come unstuck if she tries to implement the whole thing
Dare we go the full Danish and make Britain a ‘zero refugee’ zone?
Labour to overhaul human rights laws in bid to ramp up migrant deportations
08:00 , Namita SinghLabour will overhaul human rights laws to make it easier to deport foreign criminals and small boat migrants as part of a major immigration crackdown.
Under sweeping reforms unveiled by the home secretary, the government will attempt to change the way the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted by UK judges in a bid to stop asylum seekers using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
Home Office officials have claimed the ECHR “is allowing large numbers of people to stay in the UK, against the public’s wishes”, and that new legislation will allow Britain to ramp up the number of removals.
But critics have hit out at the proposals, warning any move to alter how the UK interprets the rules will drive asylum seekers underground and leave them vulnerable to exploitation.
Caitlin Doherty has the full story...
Labour to announce largest UK immigration overhaul in a generation
Minister declines to rule out visa sanctions on India
07:56 , Bryony GoochThe borders minister has declined to rule out imposing visa sanctions on India if the country did not take back more illegal immigrants.
Asked whether the Government would extend visa sanctions to India, Alex Norris told Times Radio: “We are looking at all of our agreements with every country, and if we do not think we’re getting that right engagement, that right commitment, then of course we reserve all opportunities to escalate that.
“But this is best done by bilateral co-operation. That’s what we’re seeking across the country.
“But people would expect that if we have failed asylum applications or if they’ve committed crimes, of course they should be removed.
“And we’re going to use every available method to us.”
Border minister insists Labour not chasing Reform vote with asylum policy
07:53 , Bryony GoochThe borders minister insisted Labour was not chasing Reform UK voters with its new asylum policy.
Alex Norris told BBC Breakfast: “The one thing I can assure you is that political considerations don’t come into this.
“We’re the Government of the country. We get out of bed every day to do our best by the people of this country.
“We know people are fed-up. We know people don’t want to see people coming in an uncontrolled way.”
Farage says Mahmood sounds like 'a Reform supporter'
07:52 , Bryony GoochNigel Farage has responded to Shabana Mahmood’s asylum proposals, seemingly with approval as he said the Home Secretary sounds like “a Reform supporter”.
“The Home Secretary sounds like a Reform supporter. It’s a shame that the Human Rights Act, ECHR and her own backbenchers mean that this will never happen.”
The Home Secretary sounds like a Reform supporter.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 16, 2025
It’s a shame that the Human Rights Act, ECHR and her own backbenchers mean that this will never happen. https://t.co/gbRMpzJXL8
Government's plans will be 'limited' by ECHR, says former supreme court judge
07:47 , Bryony GoochFormer supreme court judge Lord Sumption has said the Government’s plans to change how human rights legislation is applied in migration court cases will be “limited” due to the European Court of Human Rights.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It will certainly have some effect, though I suspect not a very great effect.
“The idea, as I understand it, is to direct UK judges as to how they are to interpret the European Convention.
“Now, if we pass an act in the UK that tells judges to interpret the Convention in a particular way and the Strasbourg court says it should be interpreted in a different way, then the Strasbourg court will hold us to have violated the Convention, we will then have a direct conflict between our international obligations under the Convention and our domestic legislation.
“This doesn’t mean that the idea is impractical, far from it. What it means is that if the Government wants to stay in the Convention system – and it does – then it has only very limited freedom of action, it has to draft its legislation in a way that will be acceptable to the Strasbourg court.
“That’s quite difficult to do, because the Strasbourg court is an unpredictable court which tends to make up the legal principles as it goes along.”
He added: “All I’m saying is that it’s actually a difficult and delicate business to try and work out what Strasbourg court will accept and what it won’t.”
Sending licence fee money to Mar-a-Lago not ‘smart’, shadow minister suggests after Trump threatened to sue BBC
07:40 , Namita SinghIn one of the other week’s major stories, shadow home secretary Chris Philp has warned sending BBC licence fee money “over to Mar-a-Lago” would not be a “smart” thing to do.
It comes after Donald Trump threatened to sue the corporation for up to $5bn.
Chris Philp said he believed the president is the “wronged party” in his battle with BBC, but that he did not think that using licence fee money to settle the matter would be a good idea.
You can read more from Caitlin Doherty below...
Sending licence fee money to Mar-a-Lago not ‘smart’, shadow minister suggests
Minister confirms assets could be seized off migrants to pay for housing
07:31 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentMillie Cooke, Political Correspondent reports:
Assets could be seized off migrants in order to pay for their accommodation in Britain, a Home Office minister has confirmed.
"The principle here, at the moment, is that the British public pay billions of pounds a year so that those seeking asylum or those who have already failed in their applications can be supported in their accommodation and their living", Alex Norris told Sky News.
"It is right that if people have money in the bank, if people have assets like cars, like E-bikes, they should be contributing. No, we're not going to be taking people's heirlooms off them at the border. But if there's an individual, for example, getting £800 a month sent to him. He's got himself an Audi.
“People have cars. People have E-bikes. Those are assets, they should contribute that to the cost of their living."
Pressed on whether jewellery would be confiscated, he insisted they would not be taking wedding rings off people, but added: "What we're saying, though, is if someone comes over with a bag full of gold rings, that's different to a family heirloom or personal items."
Backbenchers calls Labour asylum proposals a 'wrong turning'
07:30 , Bryony GoochLabour backbenchers are already showing their discontent with new asylum proposals, with Tony Vaughn, MP for Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh, saying the party was taking a “wrong turning.”
“The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
“The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong. We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to grant asylum, we should welcome and integrate, not create perpetual limbo and alienation.
“The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities. The Government is wrong to think that reviews of safety in the person's country every few years will mean refugees can be returned at scale. That hasn't happened in Denmark.”
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
— Tony Vaughan KC MP (@tonyvaughanMP) November 16, 2025
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong. We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to…
Shabana Mahmood to set out 'biggest changes to asylum system in modern times'
07:23 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentMillie Cooke, Political Correspondent reports:
Shabana Mahmood will set out the "biggest changes to the asylum system in modern times", a Home Office minister has said ahead of the home secretary's statement to the House of Commons later today.
The changes will "reduce those reasons for people to come here illegally" and "make it easier for us to remove people who have no legitimate right to be here, including foreign criminals", Alex Norris told Sky News.
He also claimed the changes would allow Britain in the long run to "establish safe and legal routes so that people don't have to come across Europe, don't have to come across the channel".
Why does the UK want to model its immigration system on Denmark?
07:20 , Namita SinghThe government is hoping to take lessons from the Danish immigration system, but what exactly would that look like? Millie Cooke and Holly Bancroft explain
Why does the UK want to model its immigration system on Denmark?
Tory shadow minister calls asylum overhaul 'largely gimmicks'
07:18 , Bryony GoochConservative shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers has said the Government’s asylum overhaul is “largely gimmicks”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We welcome anything if the Government pulls its finger out and gets on with trying to tackle this issue.
“It’s a huge challenge for this country, it comes at a huge cost to the taxpayers and it’s blatantly unfair, so we welcome any positive move by the Government.
“But the reality is this is small steps, some small steps in the right direction, but largely gimmicks.”
He added: “The Government is not going far enough, the only way to solve this crisis is that people, when they get in those boats, know they will not be able to stay, they’ll stop paying those people-smuggling gangs.
“People need to know that when they arrive in this country they will be removed.”
Why has the home secretary chosen Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo?
07:00 , Namita SinghShabana Mahmood has threatened three countries with Trump-style visa bans if they do not improve their cooperation with taking back their citizens.
According to reports in The Times, Ms Mahmood wrote to the embassies of Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in London on Thursday to warn them of the potential changes.
But why has she picked on these three countries?
The Times report says the Home Office said the three African countries were the most “obstructive” in refusing to take back their citizens.
But a number of other countries - including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, are also believed to be on the home secretary’s watchlist.
“In Britain, we play by the rules. When I said there would be penalties for countries that do not take back criminals and illegal immigrants, I meant it,” she said. “My message to foreign governments today is clear: accept the return of your citizens or lose the privilege of entering our country.”
'Dark forces are stirring up anger' over migration, says Mahmood as she defends asylum overhaul
06:46 , Namita SinghShabana Mahmood has cautioned Labour colleagues that “dark forces are stirring up anger” over migration, as senior figures within the party grow increasingly uneasy about the most far-reaching changes to refugee protections in decades.
The home secretary is due to set out a package of contentious legislation on Monday, including a requirement for refugee status to be reassessed every two years, restrictions on the asylum appeals process, and a tougher line on claims involving the right to family life.
Writing in the Guardian, Ms Mahmood argued that mounting frustration around illegal migration could ultimately be directed at second-generation immigrants like herself, posing a threat to community cohesion. “I know that a country without secure borders is a less safe country for those who look like me,” she said.
Dark forces are stirring up anger in this country, and seeking to turn that anger into hate. We must take the opportunity we have to stop that from happening. And I know we can.
The true nature of this country is openness, tolerance and generosity. We want to provide sanctuary to those in danger. We want to be a Greater Britain, not a littler England.
However, her proposals are believed to have already generated deep discomfort among senior Labour officials and ministers, with one figure said to be considering resignation.
Two senior sources expressed particular alarm about plans to accelerate the removal of refugee families, including those with children, reported the Guardian.
Charities have also voiced strong concerns, warning that the new regime could create “another Windrush scandal” and trap refugees in prolonged uncertainty.
They fear children may be uprooted from schools, adults prevented from establishing careers, and long-term integration severely undermined.
Alongside the tougher measures, Ms Mahmood is expected to outline three new safe and legal routes for people fleeing conflict zones such as Sudan and Eritrea to come to the UK. Even so, the status of those admitted through these schemes would remain subject to continual review.
Labour to announce largest immigration overhaul
06:03 , Namita SinghLabour will overhaul human rights laws to make it easier to deport foreign criminals and small boat migrants as part of a major immigration crackdown.
Under sweeping reforms unveiled by the home secretary, the government will attempt to change the way the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted by UK judges in a bid to stop asylum seekers using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
Home Office officials have claimed the ECHR “is allowing large numbers of people to stay in the UK, against the public’s wishes”, and that new legislation will allow Britain to ramp up the number of removals.
More here:
Labour to announce largest UK immigration overhaul in a generation
Home secretary plans visa bans for three countries
05:15 , Namita SinghShabana Mahmood will ban three countries from accessing UK visas if they fail to take back illegal migrants as she plans to overhaul human rights law as part of a sweeping reform of the asylum system.
Three African countries, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will face visa sanctions, blocking their tourists, VIPs and business people from travelling to Britain if they do not co-operate more on the removal of illegal migrants.
The move was reportedly inspired by Trump administration homeland security secretary Kristi Noem, according to the Times.
Ms Mahmood said: "In Britain, we play by the rules. When I said there would be penalties for countries that do not take back criminals and illegal immigrants, I meant it.
"My message to foreign governments today is clear: accept the return of your citizens or lose the privilege of entering our country."
Ms Mahmood is set to rewrite how Britain grants refuge to those fleeing conflict and upheaval with a statement in the House of Commons on Monday.
Illegal immigration ‘tearing the country apart’ says Mahmood defending asylum policy overhaul
04:40 , Namita SinghIllegal migration is “tearing the country apart”, the home secretary has warned, ahead of a sweeping shake-up of Britain’s asylum system.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out a series of stringent reforms on Monday, including a proposal that refugees granted asylum would have to wait two decades before being eligible for permanent settlement.
Under the plans, refugee status would also be re-examined at regular intervals, and individuals whose countries are later judged to be safe could be instructed to return.
Speaking on the BBC, Ms Mahmood described her approach as a “moral mission”.
She added: “I know illegal migration is causing huge divides here in our own country, and I do believe we need to act if we are to retain public consent for having an asylum system at all.”
But her stance has already unsettled some within Labour.
Clive Lewis, the Labour MP, told the BBC that adopting elements of the Danish model risked echoing “talking points of the far right”, cautioning that disillusioned left-leaning voters could drift towards the Green Party.
Ms Mahmood dismissed such criticism, stressing her own family’s migrant background. “I am the child of migrants myself, my parents came to this country lawfully in the late 60s, and in the 70s,” she said.
“Immigration is absolutely woven into my experience as a Brit and also that of thousands of my constituents.
This is a moral mission for me, because I can see illegal migration is tearing our country apart, it is dividing communities.
“People can see huge pressure in their communities and they can also see a system that is broken, and where people are able to flout the rules, abuse the system and get away with it.”
What is Denmark's approach to asylum?
04:30 , Namita SinghThe Danish government drastically changed its migration system in response to a major influx of people throughout the 2010s. As a result, asylum seekers can only get temporary residence permits for one to two years.
Residency is subject to regular review, and can be revoked once a refugee's home country is deemed safe.
Refugees are usually eligible for permanent status after eight years, and in order to get it they must speak fluent Danish and are required to have had a job for several years. There are also supplementary requirements, including "active citizenship".
People refused asylum must live in "departure centres", a basic standard of accommodation designed to incentivise a voluntary return home.
Family reunification is also subject to strict tests, including that both a sponsor and their partner must be over 24 years old, in a bid to prevent forced marriages.
A controversial policy known as the "jewellery law" allows the Danish authorities to confiscate asylum seekers' assets, including jewellery, to help fund the costs of their stay in Denmark. Assets of "special personal significance" should not be taken.
The authorities are also able to demolish and sell social housing in areas where more than 50 per cent of residents are from a "non-western" background, under a so-called "ghetto law" designed to prevent the formation of "parallel societies".
The effect of Denmark's policies has been to reduce the number of asylum applications to the lowest number in 40 years, and remove 95% of rejected asylum seekers.
It has however been criticised by some opponents as racist, and elements of it were previously found to have breached human rights law.
The Danish government is led by a political party which has a philosophy similar to Britain's Labour Party. It is seen as a model for the way a left-leaning administration can roll out an immigration crackdown, placate voters' concerns about migration, and defeat political rivals.
What changes is the government making?
04:20 , Namita SinghShabana Mahmood will revoke the legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, introduced in 2005 via EU law.
This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers.
Those who have a right to work in the UK and can support themselves, but do not, could also be denied housing and benefits because of the change, as could lawbreakers.
Refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review. Refugees will be removed as soon as their home countries are deemed safe. The wait for permanent settlement will be quadrupled to 20 years.
New safe and legal routes to the UK will be introduced as a way to cut dangerous journeys in small boats across the English Channel.
Local communities will be able to sponsor individual refugees in a model similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, in which people hosted those in need in their homes.
Human rights law will be overhauled to prevent it from being used to frustrate deportations. New legislation will be brought forward to ensure article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to family life) is balanced against the public interest.
Failed asylum seekers will also be limited to make one appeal against their removal, instead of having the ability to make multiple challenges on different grounds.
Last-minute appeals will be expedited, and the deportation of serious criminals will be fast-tracked with a new independent body.
AI technology to be used to identify the age of migrants
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAI facial age estimate technology is set to be rolled out to identify migrants’ age in a bid to find out whether those claiming to be children really are.
Shabana Mahmood has outlined a raft of radical measures, including introducing a 20-year wait for those who arrive in Britain by means such as small boats or lorries to qualify for a permanent stay.
The home secretary is set to revoke the statutory legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, introduced in 2005 via EU law.
This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers.
Those who have a right to work in the UK and can support themselves, but do not, could also be denied housing and benefits because of the change, as could lawbreakers.
On Monday she will reveal her major changes which will also include requiring judges to prioritise public safety over migrants’ rights to a family life, or the risk that they will face “inhuman” treatment if returned to their home country.
'Our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the Channel,' says home secretary
03:40 , Nicole Wootton-Cane“This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the Channel,” home secretary Shabana Mahmood said.
“The pace and scale of migration is placing immense pressure on communities.
“This week, I will set out the most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation. We will restore order and control to our borders.”
She also told The Sunday Times newspaper the changes are “designed to essentially say to people: do not come to this country as an illegal migrant, do not get on a boat”.
What is in the government’s asylum overhaul and how is it inspired by Denmark?
03:20 , Namita SinghHome secretary Shabana Mahmood is to announce what she has billed as "sweeping reforms" to the UK's asylum system.
Ms Mahmood will outline an overhaul of the way Britain grants sanctuary to those fleeing conflict and hardship abroad, in a statement in the House of Commons on Monday.
The reforms are aimed at making Britain a less attractive destination for illegal migrants and making it easier to remove them from the UK.
Many of the measures have already made it into the public domain via briefings to newspapers.
