UK to announce shake-up of immigration rules inspired by Danish system - as Labour MPs brand plans 'undeniably racist'
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce a revamping of the immigration and asylum system later this month, inspired by tough measures in Denmark.
The Home Secretary is expected to announce a shake up to immigration rules modelled on the Danish system - but the move have sparked backlash from Labour MPs.
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Shabana Madmooh is understood to be impressed that Denmark has driven down the number of successful asylum claims to a 40-year low - with the exception of 2020, amid pandemic travel restrictions.
It is believed she dispatched senior Home Office officials to Copenhagen last month to consider what measures could be implemented, as well as visiting herself.
Denmark's strict rules on family reunion and restricting refugees to a temporary stay in the country are considered as one of the toughest in Europe.
The Danish system requires that an individual hoping to bring a partner into the country must have independent residence status and provide a financial guarantee amounting to around £7,000.
Both partners have to be at least 24 years old and meet certain criteria for integration.
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But several left-wing Labour MPs have blasted the plans as “hardcore” and “far-Right”, urging Ms Mahmood to soften her approach.
Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, warned it would be a “dangerous path” to follow Danish policies, particularly those around “parallel societies” which she said were “undeniably racist”.
Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, said Denmark’s Social Democrats have gone "hardcore" on immigration and have "adopted many of the talking points of what we would call the far-Right.".
Rasmus Stoklund, Denmark's minister for Immigration and Integration, is a member of Labour's sister party the Social Democrats.
He said they have "tightened our laws in many ways" and have made it "quite difficult" to ensure family reunification in Denmark.
"You will get expelled a lot easier if you commit crimes. And we have made different programmes to help people go back home voluntarily," he said.
Currently, there is no indication the UK would follow the Danes in offering substantial sums - as much as the equivalent of £24,000 - for asylum seekers to return their country of origin.