Nigel Farage explains real reason why Labour's latest plans won't stop illegal migration

Labour plans to bar refugees from staying in the UK permanently will "change little" and won't stop the small boats crisis, critics have warned. Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil the measure as part of sweeping reforms of the asylum system next week.

The Home Secretary admits the Government's existing attempts to smash people smuggling gangs do not go far enough. Under the new plans, those granted protection in the UK will be sent back to their home country "the moment" it is safe again. It ends the post-World War 2 entitlement "to the permanent protection we give refugees".

The changes will be based on Denmark and other European countries, which have made it harder to claim asylum and easier to remove people.

But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage scoffed at the changes, insisting they won't work while the UK remains in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

He told the Daily Express: "Tough language from the Home Secretary is great, but the ECHR and British judges mean that little will change. Labour won't stop the boats."

Labour has only suggested it will make tweaks to Britain's relationship with the ECHR.

Ms Mahmood's tougher stance comes as the asylum crisis cost taxpayers £4.76billion in the past year.

Allies of the Home Secretary said: "Measures to tackle the small boats and smuggling gangs are vital, but they are not enough - you have to tackle the reason that refugees get on the boats in the first place. And you have to send a message that is heard the world over.

"Today, becoming a refugee equals a lifetime of protection in Britain. Mahmood will change that - making refugee status temporary and subject to regular review.

"The moment your home country is safe to return to, you will be removed.

"Mahmood knows that this country is seen as a soft touch on migration, that other countries know it, and that those choosing to get on a small boat know it too. Without sending a strong, tough message, the rate of arrivals of illegal migrants will never fall."

The plan closely resembles the approach being successfully utilised by the Danish government.

Asylum applicants have fallen to their lowest level in 40 years in Denmark where refugees are given temporary residence permits, typically of two years, and in effect have to reapply for asylum when they expire.

Even for those who are allowed to extend multiple times, the route to citizenship has grown longer and harder.

It comes as figures show the number of people claiming asylum hit 111,084 during Sir Keir Starmer's first year in office.

And the number of Channel migrants being deported has fallen under Labour.

Some 111,084 people applied for protection in the year to June, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

This is up 14% from 97,107 in the year to June 2024 and nearly double the number in 2021.

Tory shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said he doubted the government would be able to get the measures past Labour backbenchers.

"We know that Labour does not have the backbone to get these measures past their backbenchers, which is why the Conservatives are prepared to work with them in the national interest to deliver changes," he said.

"But the Conservative Party know we have to go much further than these proposals.

"Our borders plan entails withdrawing the ECHR to enable all illegal immigrants to be deported within a week of arrival, regardless of any asylum claim."

When the Home Secretary introduces her Asylum Policy Statement on Monday, she will warn Left-wingers in her own party that Labour could be obliterated in the next general election.

A source said: "We have to accept the asylum system is outdated and broken."

Ahead of next week's announcements, the Home Office released new figures showing 48,560 people have been removed from the UK since Labour came to power.

The figure, which includes failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and others with no right to be in the UK, is a 23% increase compared to the 16 months before last year's election.