NEWS: UK government vows to implement “Danish Model” to toughen stance on asylum and immigration, but will it work?
The UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to unveil a major immigration and asylum overhaul, drawing inspiration from Denmark’s tough policies.
Senior Home Office officials were recently sent to Copenhagen to study Denmark’s approach, which includes temporary refugee status, strict family reunion rules, and faster deportations for those without the right to remain.
Mahmood is expected to announce measures later this month designed to reduce incentives for migrants to come to the UK and make expulsions easier, though she’s unlikely to go as far as Denmark’s restrictions.In Denmark, refugees are typically allowed only temporary protection and can be returned once their home countries are deemed safe.
Couples seeking reunion must both be over 24, meet employment and financial criteria, and pass a language test. Mahmood’s push comes as Labour faces pressure from Reform UK, echoing how Denmark’s centre-left Social Democrats adopted hardline immigration policies to blunt the rise of right-wing populism.
But the move has split opinion within Labour. Some MPs back tougher rules to win back “Red Wall” voters, while others warn against copying policies they describe as “hardcore” and reminiscent of far-right rhetoric.
Danish immigration minister Rasmus Stoklund said his country’s system works by ensuring newcomers “contribute positively” — and he believes the UK could take similar steps.
Mahmood’s reforms are expected to be among the most significant changes to the UK’s immigration system in over a decade.Read more below.
