Britain’s Labour govt plans migration crackdown in bid to blunt opposition

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government plans to make it easier to remove migrants with no rights to stay in Britain, as he seeks to gain control of the political narrative after one of the most bruising weeks of his 16 months in power.

Proposals to speed up the process, including by overhauling human rights law, are

set to be unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood

in Parliament on Nov 17 as part of what she will call the most sweeping reforms to the British asylum system in modern times.

It marks a fresh attempt to address criticism that Labour is failing to get a grip on the number of people seeking refuge in Britain, an issue that has fuelled support for Mr Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party.

Almost 40,000 people have made the journey across the English Channel in small boats in 2025, despite Mr Starmer’s pledge to “smash” the criminal gangs behind the crossings.

Immigration topped a recent Ipsos opinion poll of the most important issues facing Britain.

“Public confidence is low, they need to see delivery,” Home Office minister Alex Norris said on BBC TV on Nov 17, when asked about the reforms. “We are very confident in our ability to implement it and the impact that it will have.”

Mr Starmer is still reeling from allegations that a Cabinet minister was plotting to oust him and last week’s market-roiling U-turn over increasing income tax rates, a decision that has raised fresh questions over how Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will fill a gaping fiscal hole in her upcoming budget.

Mr Starmer’s allies were left fearful that his position is now at risk.

British gilts were little changed on the morning of Nov 17, holding Nov 14’s loss in which 10-year yields rose 14 basis points.

Farage

Taking a harder line on asylum could prove a tough sell with sections of Mr Starmer’s party at a time when he needs support more than ever.

Labour’s left wing and others believe Britain should not be turning its back on those fleeing persecution and war, and argue the government is allowing Mr Farage to dictate its policy direction.

Ms Mahmood will pledge new legislation to reform human rights law, saying “illegal” migrants and foreign criminals are too often using Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects the right to family and private life, to “game” the system.

They will also be restricted to a single appeal, while cases with little chance of success will be expedited. 

The application of Article 3 of the ECHR – prohibiting torture and inhuman treatment – has expanded too far and Britain will work with other European countries to tackle the issue, she will say.

‘Volatile world’

“Britain has always been a fair, tolerant and compassionate country – and this government will always defend those values,” Mr Starmer said in a Home Office statement outlining the proposals.

“But, in a more volatile world, people need to know our borders are secure and rules are enforced. These reforms will block endless appeals, stop last-minute claims and scale up removals of those with no right to be here.”

Ms Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservatives, responded in a statement saying a Tory government would leave the ECHR, establish a specialised removals force and deport all illegal arrivals within a week. 

Under Labour’s proposals, asylum seekers would no longer have a statutory right to housing and state support. 

Britain would also adopt Danish-style proposals to limit the time refugees can stay in the country, with their immigration status – currently permanent – subject to regular review. People will be removed once their home country is deemed safe.

Asylum claims in Britain jumped 14 per cent to a record 111,084 in the year ending June, helping fuel support for Reform, a party that won just five parliamentary seats at 2024’s general election but has topped opinion polls for months.

The Home Office has deported or removed almost 50,000 immigrants, who were in the country illegally, since Labour came to power in July 2024, a 23 per cent increase on the 16 months prior. BLOOMBERG