The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, plans to ban asylum seekers from claiming protections under modern slavery and human rights laws. This decision has sparked criticism from some ministers, adding pressure on the Starmer administration.
The Labour Party came to power in the UK in July last year. Following a proposal by the previous Conservative government, the current administration intends to uphold this specific ban. Many asylum seekers facing deportation have previously sought protection under modern slavery laws to prevent their removal from the UK.
The new restrictions also propose detaining asylum seekers for up to 28 days. Every year, thousands of migrants cross the English Channel in small boats to seek asylum in the UK, an issue that concerns many British voters.
During the election campaign, Keir Starmer had pledged to dismantle organized human trafficking networks. On Thursday, the UK Parliament introduced a new bill titled The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
If passed, the bill would grant police the power to seize asylum seekers’ mobile phones to track human traffickers. It would also help identify individuals involved in constructing or supplying small boats used for illegal crossings into the UK.
In 2023, Labour MPs voted against such restrictions. However, Starmer justified their stance at the time, saying it was necessary to provide additional protection for trafficked women. Neither Starmer nor his office have commented on what has changed in early 2025 to warrant this shift in policy.
According to a YouGov survey, immigration is the third most important issue for UK residents after healthcare and the economy. Government statistics show that 36,816 people arrived in the UK via small boats last year, marking a 29% increase from the previous year.
The number of migrants crossing the Channel has not been this high since 2018.