With increasing support for the right, the British government reduces the margin of protection for refugees

A statement by Interior Minister Shabana Mahmoud said: "I will end the asylum seekers’ golden ticket to the UK"

Regular Review

Currently, beneficiaries of refugee status are entitled to remain in the country for five years, after which they can apply to remain in the country indefinitely and then apply for citizenship. However, the Ministry of Interior indicated that this period will be reduced to 30 months.

It said that this margin of protection will be subject to…"Regular review"Refugees will also be forced to return to their countries once they are deemed safe.

Asylum seekers

The department also said it intends to subject those granted refugee status to a twenty-year waiting period before they are allowed to apply to stay in the UK long-term, instead of the current five-year period.

In addition, the government announced that it would limit the social benefits that automatically benefit asylum seekers.

The Ministry of the Interior indicated that the step falls within the framework of a comprehensive amendment to the asylum system inspired by the strict immigration policies followed in Denmark.

Migrant crossing operations

Starmer, whose party won the elections last summer, is facing pressure to curb migrants crossing the Channel (sea Channel) to British territory from France on board small boats, which caused problems for the previous Conservative government, especially at the level of elections.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 39 thousand people have arrived illegally across the Channel on board unsafe boats, a number that exceeds what was recorded at this level in the year 2024, but remains lower than the record number recorded in the year 2022.

Asylum requests

Crossing operations increase the popularity of the Party "Reform UK" Led by Nigel Farage, who was far ahead of the Labor Party in the majority of opinion polls conducted this year.

More than 111,000 people applied for asylum in the United Kingdom between June 2024 and June 2025, which is the highest number ever recorded since statistics began in 2001, according to the latest Home Office data.