Stricter tests planned
Home secretary Yvette Cooper is preparing to unveil tougher restrictions on family reunion rights for asylum seekers in the UK.
Under the new measures, successful applicants will need to prove financial stability, English language fluency and sufficient time spent in the country before being allowed to bring relatives.
The government says the changes are intended to reduce pressure on local councils, which have reported rising homelessness linked to family reunion routes. Ministers argue the UK will be brought closer in line with practices elsewhere in Europe.
Border crackdown highlighted
Cooper will also highlight a sharp fall in Channel crossings. Just 55 small boats reached the UK in August, compared to 75 in the same month last year, the lowest figure since 2019.
She will claim this shows Labour’s efforts to “smash the gangs” are paying off, with a 40 per cent rise in arrests and financial asset seizures over the past year, including a major haul of boats on the Bulgarian border.
Political tension grows
Immigration remains one of the most divisive issues facing the government. Protests linked to asylum accommodation took place across London at the weekend, resulting in several arrests. Meanwhile, opposition figures accused Labour of being “engulfed in a borders crisis.”
The debate has also fuelled renewed calls from some Conservatives and Reform UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. Former Labour home secretary Jack Straw told the Financial Times he now supports decoupling UK law from the ECHR to allow faster deportations.
Cooper is expected to give further details of reforms to the appeals process, including an independent body to prioritise urgent cases and legislation to accelerate decisions.
