Britain is set to drastically reduce protections for refugees under plans to overhaul its asylum system, as announced by the Labour government on Saturday.

The measures aim to address mounting pressure over irregular migration amid soaring support for the hard right.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration faces increasing scrutiny concerning migration issues, particularly regarding small boat crossings from France.

According to recent statistics, more than 39,000 individuals have arrived in the UK this year, seeking asylum due to conflict and other reasons.

This figure surpasses those recorded for the entire year of 2024 but remains lower than the record set in 2022.

The proposed changes include reducing the duration of refugee status from five years to 30 months.

Refugees granted such status will have their protection regularly reviewed, with a requirement to return to their home countries once deemed safe by authorities.

Additionally, those granted asylum would need to wait for 20 years before applying for indefinite leave to remain and eventual citizenship, replacing the current waiting period of five years.

The Home Office, led by Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood, claims these reforms represent 'the largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times.' The changes are part of efforts to curb migrants crossing the English Channel, a concern that has plagued both Labour and previous Conservative governments.

Asylum claims have reached record levels, with over 111,000 applications made in the year leading up to June 2025.

The government's proposal has emerged amid the growing popularity of Reform, a political party led by Nigel Farage, which has seen its support surpass that of the Labour Party in opinion polls for most of this year.

This political landscape adds further complexity to the already contentious issue of migration and asylum policies in the UK.