Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a tightening of rules for asylum seekers looking to bring family members to the UK, and revealed that illegal migrants could be deported in a matter of weeks in reforms to Britain's process.
Ms Cooper said the overhaul is aimed at fixing what she described as a “broken” asylum system, which has faced mounting criticism over the widespread use of hotels to house migrants arriving on small boats.
The new measures include tougher English language requirements and proof of sufficient funds for relatives, alongside reforms to the asylum appeals process.
She confirmed that one of the Government’s key priorities is ending reliance on hotel accommodation, insisting the reforms will ensure the system is fairer and more sustainable.
She confirmed that one of the Government’s key priorities is ending reliance on hotel accommodation
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Speaking in The Commons this afternoon, The Home Secretary said: "It is little wonder that people across the country have lost confidence in the system and demanded to know why they were paying the price for a system that was so out of control.
"But that does not mean people reject the long and proud history of Britain doing its bit to help those fleeing persecution or conflict, includin in the past decade families from Ukraine, Syria, and Hong Kong.
"It is the British way to help those who need sanctuary alongside other countries. Yet the system must be controlled and managed based on fair and properly enforced rules, not chaos and exploitation driven by criminal smuggling gangs.
"It is precisely because of this important tradition that substantial reforms are needed now."
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She added: "In our first year in Government, we have taken immediate action, laying the foundations for more fundamental reform.
"We have restored asylum decision-making and rapidly increased the rate of decisions. Had we continued the previous government's freeze on asylum decisions, thousands more people would now be in hotels and asylum accommodation.
"Instead, we have removed 35,000 people with no right to be here, including a 28 per cent increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and a 14 per cent increase in removals of foreign criminals.
"We have increased raids and arrests on illegal working by 50 per cent and cut the annual hotel bill by almost £1billion last year. We are rolling out digital ID and biometric kits so immigration enforcement can check on the spot whether someone has a right to work or remain in the UK.
"On channel crossings and organised immigration crime, we are implementing new powers, structures, and international agreements to help dismantle the criminal networks behind the boats."
Labour is facing growing pressure to tackle the small boats crisis
| GETTYDiscussing the sweeping reforms, she explained: "I want to update the House on the further steps we are now taking. In August, I signed a new treaty with France, allowing us for the first time to directly return those who arrive on small boats.
"The first detentions took place the next day in Dover, and we expect the first returns to begin later this month.
"Applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases under consideration subject to strict security checks. This is a pilot scheme, but proving the concept at the outset will help us develop and grow it.
"The principles are crucial: no one should make these dangerous or illegal journeys on small boats, and if they do, we want them returned swiftly. In return, we will continue to help those fleeing persecution through managed and controlled legal programmes."
The Home Secretary explained: "We now turn to the major reforms needed to fix the broken asylum system we inherited.
"Although we have increased decision-making and removals, the overall system remains sclerotic, outdated, and unfair.
"As committed in the Immigration White Paper, we will soon set out more radical reforms to modernise the asylum system and boost border security.
"This includes tackling pull factors, strengthening enforcement, ensuring fairness, reforming the domestic interpretation of the ECHR, speeding up the system, reducing numbers, ending hotel use, and developing controlled, managed routes for genuine refugees.
Reform UK has seen a recent surge in the polls
| PA"At the heart of these reforms will be a complete overhaul of the appeals system, the biggest obstacle to reducing the size of the asylum system and ending hotel use.
"Tens of thousands of people in asylum accommodation are currently waiting for appeals, with average wait times already at 54 weeks.
"We have funded thousands of additional sitting days this year, and the Border Security Bill will introduce a statutory timeframe of 24 weeks.
"We will go further by creating a new independent body to handle immigration and asylum appeals, fully independent of Government, staffed by professionally trained adjudicators, able to surge capacity as needed, with new procedures to tackle repeat applications and unnecessary delays."
"We are also increasing detention and returns capacity, including a 1,000-bed expansion at Campsfield and Hassler, with the first tranche coming online within months to support many thousands more forced removals each year.
"Our reforms will also address the overly complex system for family migration, including changes to the domestic interpretation of Article 8 of the ECHR.
"International law is important, and our adherence to it has allowed agreements with France and Germany to manage returns and prevent criminal gangs from exploiting migrants."
Ms Cooper insisted the reforms are about controlling the system, not stopping Britain from helping refugees.
Ms Cooper insisted the reforms are about controlling the system
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She pledged that legal routes for genuine asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children and those fleeing persecution, will be maintained under managed and controlled programmes.
The announcement comes as a shock poll shows Reform UK taking a dramatic nine-point lead over Labour.
The Ipsos survey put Reform on 34 per cent, with Labour trailing on 25 per cent.
The Conservatives fared even worse, recording just 15 per cent, the lowest ever in an Ipsos poll, while Reform hit their highest-ever level.