Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Asylum Policies: Danish Model

Monday 17 November 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government has learned lessons from Denmark's asylum system reforms, aiming to reduce asylum claims and restore border control.
  • The Government plans to publish detailed modelling of its asylum policies and will model the impact of these reforms.
  • The UK Government will not exit the European convention on human rights but will pursue reform, particularly of article 8.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nadia Whittome Lab Nottingham East
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The Labour MP questioned the impact of implementing asylum policies similar to those in Denmark, which have been described as dystopian and cruel. The context involves a plan for fundamental reform to the UK's broken asylum system.

Question

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of implementing asylum policies similar to Denmark on asylum seekers and refugees? I am concerned about the dystopian nature of these policies, which are ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Is this how we would want to be treated if we were fleeing for our lives?

Answer from The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Shabana Mahmood)

We have learned lessons from international partners, including Denmark. Fundamental reform to its system has seen asylum claims at a 40-year low. The impact of this Government's plans will be to restore order and control to the border so we can be an open, tolerant, and generous country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP sought a specific assessment but received general statements about learning from international partners without detail on the impact on asylum seekers and refugees.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Steve Barclay Con North East Cambridgeshire
Immigration
Context

The Conservative MP questioned the Home Secretary about detailed modelling for the reforms being planned, suggesting an ongoing issue with rising asylum numbers and illegal crossings.

Question

Will she confirm that detailed modelling will be published and whether she has shared that modelling with No. 10? The question refers to the lack of force in previous questioning due to past government policies on migration and the need for policy detail.

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

Of course we will model the impact of our policies. This is a sweeping set of reforms—the most significant in modern times. They will bring down the number of arrivals and increase the number of removals of those who have no right to be in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP sought confirmation about detailed modelling but received general statements on reform impact without specifics.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Chris Philp Con Croydon South
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The Conservative MP challenged the Home Secretary's proposal to replace UK immigration policy with Denmark’s and questioned whether coming out of the European convention on human rights would enable more effective border control.

Question

Will she agree that in order to control our borders we must come out of the European convention on human rights, enabling us to deport all illegal immigrants within a week of their arrival?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

This Government will not come out of the European convention on human rights. We are going to reform the way that article 8 in particular is applied to immigration rules within our country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP sought agreement but received a statement against coming out of the ECHR without addressing the specific question about deportation timing.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Cheltenham
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

The Liberal Democrat MP questioned the Home Secretary about reforming certain articles of the ECHR and asked for a cast-iron guarantee that changes will be made in partnership with other signatories to avoid international isolation.

Question

Can she give us a cast-iron guarantee that when she is working on these changes, she will do so in partnership with other signatories to the convention and will not follow the Conservatives and Reform in seeking to isolate this country on the international stage?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

We are not coming out of the European convention on human rights. We are going to pursue reform—in particular of article 8, which is a qualified right under the convention—and I will set out those plans later today. A conversation is already happening on reform of the European convention.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP sought a cast-iron guarantee but received general statements about reform without specific commitment to partnership guarantees.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email