Divide among Labour Party MPs: How to Outmaneuver Reform Party on Asylum Policies
In the heart of the UK, the asylum system is grappling with significant challenges, as over 80,000 asylum seekers await decisions, many of whom have been waiting for months or even years [1]. This prolonged wait, impacting the ability of asylum seekers to work and integrate, has also led to increased costs due to prolonged government accommodation support.
Recently, the Home Office has introduced measures aimed at addressing these issues. A pilot scheme with France, effective from August 6, 2025, returns adults crossing the Channel to France if their asylum claims are deemed inadmissible [2]. This initiative aims to deter illegal crossings, though the number of returns remains uncertain.
The Home Office also seeks to optimise the use of asylum accommodation by dispersing asylum seekers across regions, reducing reliance on hotels in London and the southeast [3]. Exceptional circumstances may be considered for accommodation requests based on health or safety reasons.
Another area of focus is enforcement against illegal working. The government has launched a nationwide clampdown on illegal working, particularly targeting gig economy roles such as delivery riders. Asylum seekers found working illegally may lose accommodation and support payments [4].
However, legal challenges frequently hamper removals of people whose claims are refused, with over half of enforced return attempts cancelled in recent years due to last-minute asylum applications or legal appeals [5]. The number of returns has increased since 2021, reflecting changes in migration patterns and enforcement referrals.
Amidst these challenges, political parties are at odds over the best approach to addressing the issue. Conservative governments, including those of David Cameron and Rishi Sunak, have failed to reduce immigration numbers [6]. The Labour party, led by Keir Starmer, is trying to address the ongoing issue of asylum seekers, with Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, announcing an additional £100m to tackle boat crossings and promising 300 extra officers at the National Crime Agency [7].
Some Labour MPs, however, fear that they will lose their seats if the party does not address the issue of small boat crossings and asylum seekers effectively. This fear is heightened by the ongoing protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, with reports of slogans like "send them home" being chanted [8].
Meanwhile, Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, continues to surge in national surveys and is seen by many voters as the only party that can fix the perceived broken asylum system [9]. Farage has proposed leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and deporting anyone arriving on a small boat [10]. Some Labour MPs are wary of playing Reform UK's game, with one MP stating, "We'll never out-Reform Reform. If we start playing their game, we've already lost." [11]
Shehab Khan, an award-winning presenter and political correspondent for ITV News, is closely following the developments in this complex and evolving situation.
References:
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- The Independent
- The Telegraph
- The Times
- The New Statesman
- The Mirror
- Sky News
- YouGov
- The Sun
- The i
Politically, the ongoing challenge in the UK's asylum system has sparked contentions among political parties, with the Labour party aiming to tackle boat crossings and asylum seekers issues through additional funds and increased enforcement, contrasting the Conservative governments' approach that has not succeeded in reducing immigration numbers.
Meanwhile, Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, continues to gain support from voters disenchanted with the perceived broken asylum system, proposing radical measures like leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and deporting small boat arrivals.
