LONDON — Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, the UK government announced late on Saturday, under new plans aimed at slashing irregular immigration but criticized by rights groups.

The incumbent Labour government has been hardening its immigration policies, particularly on illegal small-boat crossings from France, as it seeks to stem the surging popularity of the populist Reform UK party, which has driven the immigration agenda.

"I'll end UK's golden ticket for asylum seekers," interior minister Shabana Mahmood declared in a statement.

But the head of Britain's Refugee Council warned the government the measures would not deter people from trying to reach Britain, and urged a rethink.

Over 100 British charities wrote to Mahmood, urging her to "end the scapegoating of migrants and performative policies that only cause harm", saying such steps are fueling racism and violence.

Polls suggest immigration has overtaken the economy as voters' top concern, Reuters reported. Some 109,343 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending March 2025, a 17 percent rise on the previous year and 6 percent above the 2002 peak of 103,081.

Presently, those given refugee status have it for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and eventually citizenship.

But Mahmood's ministry, known as the Home Office, said it would cut the length of refugee status to 30 months.

That protection will be "regularly reviewed", and refugees will be forced to return to their home countries once they are deemed safe, it added.

The ministry also said it intended to make those refugees who were granted asylum wait 20 years before applying to be allowed to live in the UK long-term. Currently, they can do so after five years.

Asylum claims in Britain are at a record high, with some 111,000 applications made in the year to June 2025, according to official figures.

Anti-immigration sentiment has been growing in the UK, with protests taking place this summer outside hotels sheltering asylum seekers with state funding.

Policy 'overhaul'

The Home Office called the new proposals, which Mahmood is due to lay out in parliament on Monday, the "largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times".

It said the reforms would make it less attractive for irregular migrants to come to Britain, and make it easier to remove those already in the country.

A statutory legal duty to provide support to asylum seekers, introduced in a 2005 law, would also be revoked, the ministry said.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, urged the government to rethink its plans, saying they "will not deter" the crossings.

"They should ensure that refugees who work hard and contribute to Britain can build secure, settled lives and give back to their communities," he said.

Agencies via Xinhua