UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is examining Denmark's stringent immigration policies as part of an impending overhaul of Britain's asylum system. Senior officials visited Copenhagen last month to study Danish interventions, which have helped reduce asylum applications to a 40-year low and achieve a 95 per cent removal rate for rejected asylum seekers.
The review comes as Channel crossings continue to surge. On Friday alone, 648 migrants crossed in nine boats, bringing this year's total to 38,223. The government is seeking measures to reduce "pull factors" for migrants and streamline deportations.
Denmark's approach includes strict family reunion rules requiring a minimum age of 24 for refugees seeking to bring partners to the country. Those granted residency must not have claimed benefits for three years and must provide a financial guarantee. Both partners must pass a Danish language test. Refugees living in areas with over 50 per cent non-Western residents are ineligible for family reunion.
Labour Party Divisions
The potential adoption of Danish-style policies has exposed deep rifts within Labour. Nadia Whittome, a Labour MP representing Nottingham East, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: «I think these are policies of the far-right. I don't think anyone wants to see a Labour government flirting with them.» Clive Lewis warned: «When a progressive party adopts the logic of its opponents - that migrants are a threat, that order must come before rights, that the state's job is to manage people rather than empower them - it doesn't neutralise the authoritarian right. It normalises it.»
However, Labour MPs in vulnerable constituencies support exploring the Danish model. Gareth Snell, representing Stoke-on-Trent Central, told BBC Radio 4 it was «worth looking at what best practice we can find from our sister parties around the world where they have managed to find practical solutions». Jo White told GB News: «I very much welcome that we have a Home Secretary who's willing to look at every way of what we can do to reduce the number of people coming over here on boats.»
Denmark's centre-left Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in power since 2019, previously declared an ambition for "zero asylum seekers". Lisa Blinkenberg from Amnesty International Denmark said: «In 2019, the Danish prime minister declared that Denmark wanted 'zero asylum seekers'. That was a really strong signal.» The government is expected to announce its new approach in the coming weeks.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
