British government announces drastic asylum reforms – a turning point!

British government announces drastic asylum reforms – a turning point!

What is happening in British politics? The Social Democratic government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is planning far-reaching changes to the country's asylum system. Today Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled her reform plan, which is described as "the biggest overhaul of asylum policy" in Britain's recent history and is closely modeled on previous practices in Denmark. With the tense migration situation and a record number of 109,343 asylum applications last year, an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous year, the need for action is obvious.

Mahmood, who will speak in the House of Commons on Monday, has already made it clear that the reforms are intended to represent the "most comprehensive change to the asylum system in decades". A key point is the abolition of the legal obligation to support asylum seekers, which was introduced under EU law in 2005. In the future, support for certain asylum seekers, such as housing and financial aid, will be at the discretion of the authorities. This means a radical change in previous practice, which was seen by many as a humanitarian duty Nordkurier.

The details of the reform

Another key aspect of the reform concerns the employment opportunities of asylum seekers. Anyone who could work in the UK but does not will lose their right to accommodation and financial support. At the same time, refugee status will be shortened from the current five years to 30 months, and return to the countries of origin will be examined as soon as they are considered safe. Illegal immigrants should only receive a permanent right of residence after 20 years - and only under strict conditions, such as the absence of a criminal record Tagesschau.

The British refugee aid agency has already made serious accusations against politicians. More than 100 organizations are calling for an end to the so-called “scapegoat policy,” which many blame for the increase in asylum applications. The British Refugee Council points out that many people come to the UK because of family ties or language skills. Against this background, the new asylum policy could be challenged in court. The pressure is growing on the Labor Party to take a clear position on the humane treatment of refugees.

Social reactions

Political pressure on the Labor Party is high as the right-wing populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, is currently leading the polls. Starmer is responding to this challenge by partly adopting the rhetoric of the right and announcing his intention to end the “open borders experiment”. This could be a tactical decision to win votes, but it remains to be seen how voters will react to this about-face Nordkurier.

Amid this political turmoil, the question remains: how will these reforms affect the lives of those who take the greatest dangerous risks to seek safety in Britain? The next few months will show whether the far-reaching changes will actually have the promised effect - a reduction in the number of refugees Tagesschau.