Keir Starmer in asylum crackdown as he vows to end ‘golden ticket’ for migrants
Starmer pledges shake-up of asylum seekers’ family reunion rights
- The prime minister has announced a crackdown on immigration, vowing to end automatic family reunion rights for asylum seekers and altering requirements for long-term settlement in the UK.
- The government will review how British courts apply European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) rules, specifically Articles 3 and 8, which could affect asylum claims based on torture risk or family life.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is implementing a major overhaul of British citizenship routes, requiring migrants to meet stricter criteria to qualify for indefinite leave to remain.
- Those include English proficiency, a clean criminal record, volunteering, and financial independence.
- These proposed changes have been criticised by human rights organisations and charities, who warn of undermining fundamental rights, while others, like Migration Watch UK, suggest the measures do not go far enough.