The Briefing Room What can the UK learn from the rest of Europe about asylum reform?
Nov 20, 2025
Dr. Madeleine Sumption, an immigration policy expert at Oxford, discusses the UK’s tough new asylum proposals aimed at reducing appeal. Professor Andrew Geddes sheds light on Italy's crackdown on smugglers and issues with processing hubs. Susi Dennison evaluates Denmark's stringent asylum model, highlighting its drastic decrease in applications. The guests analyze the implications of these trends across Europe, focusing on returns, legal challenges, and the tensions surrounding the ECHR, revealing complex impacts on asylum seekers.
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Temporary Status And Tighter Protections
- The UK plans to give refugees a temporary status reassessed regularly, up to 20 years before permanent settlement is possible.
- The proposals also cut financial support and narrow legal protections to speed up removals.
Small Boats Are Visible But Not Majority
- Small boats account for a visible but minority share of UK asylum arrivals; 39% arrived on small boats last year.
- Many asylum claims come from people who entered on visas or other routes, so policy focus on boats misses part of the picture.
UK's Asylum Share Has Grown But Per Capita Low
- The UK was fifth in absolute asylum claims last year but 17th per capita, taking about 11% of claims in Europe.
- The UK's share has risen from 5–6% pre-pandemic to higher levels recently.