The UK government is preparing to announce major reforms to its immigration system, drawing inspiration from Denmark’s stringent asylum and border control policies. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has reportedly sent officials to Denmark to study their approach, with the intention of adopting similar measures in Britain.
Denmark is known for its rigorous immigration rules, including stricter family reunion criteria and limiting some refugees to temporary residence. These elements are expected to form the basis of the forthcoming UK policy changes, which Mahmood is anticipated to reveal later this month, according to reports from the BBC.
The initiative has sparked a split within the Labour Party. Some MPs, particularly from so-called “red wall” constituencies vulnerable to electoral challenges from Reform UK, advocate for adopting even tougher Danish-style policies. Meanwhile, others express concern that such a move risks alienating progressive voters and pushing Labour too far to the right.
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The announcement comes amid growing challenges for the government in managing Channel crossings. Recent months have seen an increase in small boat arrivals, alongside incidents such as the repeated re-entry of an Iranian man who had been deported under the UK-France returns agreement. Although officials argue his interception upon arrival demonstrates the system’s effectiveness, critics accuse the government of being in “total chaos.”
On a single day last week, 648 people crossed the Channel in nine boats, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to over 38,000 according to Home Office figures.
Home Secretary Mahmood has emphasized the need for stronger deterrents against unauthorized entry routes and more efficient removal processes for those without legal right to remain in the UK.
Voicing support for reform, Stoke-on-Trent Central Labour MP Gareth Snell suggested on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that exploring best practices from around the world—especially those that bring fairness to an asylum system many constituents distrust—is worthwhile.
Conversely, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome cautioned against implementing Danish-style policies, labeling them as “far-right” and warning that adopting such measures risks damaging Labour’s reputation.
As the UK braces for these immigration reforms, debates within the Labour Party and the broader political landscape are set to intensify.