Today in Focus Why Labour is going Danish on immigration
10 snips
Nov 17, 2025 
Nilas Heinskou, a political editor at Politiken with insights from his Brussels correspondence, joins Agob Yacoub, a Syrian refugee who escaped conflict and navigated Denmark’s complex immigration landscape. They delve into Denmark's strict immigration measures and how these have shaped public opinion. Agob shares his personal challenges acclimating to Danish society amidst tough rhetoric. The duo debates whether Denmark's model can be effectively mirrored in the UK, highlighting the delicate balance between policy success and social impact.
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Deliberate Deterrence Strategy
- Denmark deliberately made asylum less attractive to reduce arrivals and net migration.
- Policymakers openly aim to shift asylum flows to other countries like Sweden.
Center-Left Moves Right
- Denmark's Social Democrats adopted hardline immigration positions after losing voters to the far right.
- The shift became tactical then ideological, making tough immigration mainstream in Denmark.
Policy And Messaging Combined
- Denmark cut family reunification and reduced benefits to discourage settlement.
- The government also signals hostility publicly to amplify the deterrent effect.