UK plans major asylum overhaul, tightens human-rights interpretation

Britain’s government will propose changes to how courts interpret human rights protections as part of a sweeping asylum overhaul aimed at expediting deportations of people who arrive illegally. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the reforms are meant to stop last-minute legal bids and scale up removals of those with no right to remain.

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood is due to outline measures including making refugee status temporary and extending the waiting period for permanent settlement. Ministers also plan to clarify that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights — the right to family life — applies narrowly to immediate family, and they signalled interest in reviewing aspects of Article 3’s application on inhuman or degrading treatment.

The Labour government insists it will stay within the ECHR framework, but rights groups warn the proposals risk pushing vulnerable people into greater peril. Freedom from Torture called the plan punitive, arguing it strips away vital safeguards.

Downing Street says the package responds to public concern over irregular migration and is designed to streamline appeals, fast-track the removal of criminals and limit perceived misuse of modern slavery provisions.