Why does UK government want to copy Denmark's immigration system?

"The UK government is expected to announce changes to the country's immigration rules, modelled on a controversial system used in Denmark which is widely seen as one of the most stringent in Europe. Concerns about immigration have risen steadily over the past five years, fuelled in part by the number of migrants arriving in Britain via small boat crossings. A recent YouGov poll suggested voters were more worried about migration than the state of economy."

"The Labour government also faces significant challenges from Nigel Farage's Reform party, which is ahead in the polls. Reform promises to radically overhaul the immigration system if it gains power, most notably scrapping the right of migrants to qualify for permanent settlement in the UK after five years. After excluding data from 2020, when significant travel restrictions were in place because of the pandemic, the number of people granted asylum in Denmark is at a 40-year low."

"People targeted personally by foreign regimes are normally given protection by Denmark but this is often on a temporary basis, with the government reserving the right to return an asylum seeker to their home country when it is deemed safe. For example, in 2022, the Danish government told about 1,200 refugees from Damascus, Syria, that they would be returned after it judged there was no longer a risk to them in the region."

The UK government is expected to adopt immigration rules modelled on Denmark's stringent system. Concerns about immigration have risen over five years, partly because of small boat crossings. A YouGov poll found voters were more worried about migration than the economy. Nigel Farage's Reform party leads in some polls and seeks to end permanent settlement after five years. After excluding 2020 pandemic data, Denmark's number of people granted asylum is at a 40-year low. Denmark often grants protection on a temporary basis and reserves the right to return asylum seekers when it judges home conditions safe. Family reunification requires partners to be 24+, pass a language test, and show financial self-sufficiency.

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