Huge backlash to Labour 'immigration shake-up' as UK government tries to compete with Reform

The UK government's plans for a major overhaul of the UK's asylum system are being met with disdain and anger from rights groups as well as MPs from the governing Labour Party, who have described the plans as inhumane and called for a rethink.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled a raft of changes to the way the UK treats refugees on Monday, which include an end to permanent asylum and a regular review of asylum statuses, the possible return of refugees to their home countries once safe to do so, and possible retaliatory visa bans on several African countries that refuse to take back citizens.

The radical changes to UK immigration policy were unveiled on Monday in a 33-page document named 'Restoring Order and Control', which sets out reforms to cope with an increasingly "volatile and insecure" world, leading to a "significant increase in the movement of people".

“Our asylum system was not designed to cope with this. Nor were our rules designed for the situation that sees asylum seekers travelling through multiple safe countries before seeking to cross the English Channel by boat," the paper reads.

The policy paper does not appear to state that jewellery from asylum seekers will be impounded on entry, as Home Office Minister of State Alex Norris told UK media, but does say their non-monetary assets can be seized to contribute to their upkeep.

Refugee groups, rights campaigners, and MPs have warned that the plans could do massive damage to the UK's reputation and cause unimaginable harm to the lives of asylum seekers.

The Labour Party is attempting to pre-empt an electoral surge from the right-wing populist party Reform UK, who accuse the government of being too soft on immigration.

The plans appear to be modelled on those adopted by the centre-left government in Denmark, when it also faced a threat from the right over the issue of immigration.

"A strong immigration system doesn’t need to be a cruel one," said Labour MP Sarah Owen on social media.

"It shouldn’t need saying - but refugees & asylum seekers are real people, fleeing war and persecution.... Taking jewellery from refugees is akin to painting over murals for refugee children."

Other MPs within her party have condemned the proposals, including Nadia Whittome, who described the "Denmark-style policies" as "dystopian".

Former Labour leader and now Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn also slammed the government for failing to tax the rich and instead targeting the UK's poorest. 

"Labour won't redistribute wealth from billionaires. But they will seize belongings from those fleeing war and persecution. Absolutely disgusting. Asylum seekers are human beings — and they deserve to live in dignity just like anybody else," he wrote on X.

The UK could also issue visa bans on citizens from Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who refuse to take back citizens after their asylum bids fail.

Refugees could also have to wait 20 years to gain permanent residency with their asylum status periodically reviewed, while those convicted of crimes might have their benefits withdrawn.

Labour MP for Folkestone, Tony Vaughan, said the policies would be another obstacle to refugees seeking to integrate themselves in British life.

“We should be welcoming, integrating and not creating this situation – a kind of perpetual limbo and alienation, which doesn’t help the refugees, it doesn’t help society,” he told the BBC.

Labour MP Diane Abbott also highlighted the dangers the legislation would bring to asylum seekers and other immigrants.

"Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening: Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Overriding it if the risks of violence are greater is a mob's charter. Watering down the Modern Slavery Act. Awful," she wrote.

The Green Party, which has challenged Labour from the left, came out to oppose to policies before they were unveiled later on Monday.

"The Greens don’t believe providing safe refuge for endangered asylum seekers is an 'out-of-control' policy," the party wrote.

"Nor do we believe making life more difficult for those in need is the way to unify British society. Refugees are welcome."

Labour is being bashed in the polls after a surge in support for Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which has campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, particularly refugees entering the UK via small boats.