Tragic … following Denmark
Update 17 Nov 2025:
15 November 2025: BBC: UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
People granted asylum in the UK will only be allowed to stay in the country temporarily, in a major change of policy to be announced by the home secretary on Monday.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to declare that the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, as she seeks to reduce asylum claims and small boat crossings.
Under the plans, those granted asylum will be returned to their home country when it is deemed safe and their status will be regularly reviewed.
Currently, refugee status in the UK lasts for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and have a route to citizenship.
There are currently some temporary schemes for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This was initially for three years but extensions have been granted.
Government insiders are describing a move to temporary status for all successful asylum seekers as a “significant shift”.
The policy has been copied from Denmark, where a government led by the centre-left Social Democrats has presided over one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe.
[…] But copying Denmark too closely would be controversial.
Four years ago the Danish government planned to return around 200 refugees to Syria even while a civil war raged – because it said some parts of Damascus were safe.