Are Government asylum reforms workable or do problems lie ahead?
110,000 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending September 2025, the highest number on record and a 13% increase on the previous year. In response, the Government has announced plans to reform the asylum system to deter new arrivals and increase returns.
Meeting details
Successful asylum claimants would be granted temporary protection, with their case being reviewed every 30 months. Those deemed to no longer have a valid claim would be subject to removal. Refugees granted temporary protection would normally not be eligible for permanent settlement until they had been in the UK for 20 years. Refugees would have the opportunity to switch out of Core Protection through a “protection work and study route” if they gain employment or start study at an appropriate level. Refugees who enter the UK through a resettlement scheme would be eligible for settlement after 10 years.
Further reforms aim to reduce what the Government describes as pull factors, by revoking the duty to provide support to asylum seekers and moving out of hotels. Significant restrictions would also be placed on refugee family reunion, ending the automatic right of refugees to sponsor family members. The asylum appeals system, currently facing ongoing backlogs, would be changed to limit opportunities to appeal and ensure claims are heard more quickly.
In this session the Home Affairs Committee will examine why the UK has seen increasing levels of irregular migration, while asylum claims in Europe have recently declined, and ask whether the proposed reforms will lead to a reduction and are consistent with the UK’s international obligations. It will also look at whether the new measures deliver workable solutions or if they might bring unintended consequences.