Key facts
- Asylum seekers in the UK may need to repay approximately £10,000 for state support.
- The repayment is a prerequisite for applying for settlement.
- The government stated the measure aims to deter illegal migration.
- Only adults who can afford to pay will be charged.
- Safeguards are in place to prevent destitution.
- Children are exempt from the proposed charge.
The UK government has announced plans to require asylum seekers to repay approximately £10,000 for accommodation and basic living support before they can apply for settlement. This measure is part of the government's latest efforts to deter illegal migration and reduce the burden on taxpayers.
Interior minister Shabana Mahmood stated that while receiving asylum support is a right, it also comes with responsibility, and those who can afford to do so are expected to repay the generosity of the British people. The proposed rules would only apply to adults who can afford the payment, with safeguards in place to prevent them from becoming destitute. Children would be exempt, and the rules would not be applied retrospectively.
Immigration remains a highly contested issue in British politics, with opinion polls consistently showing it as a top concern for voters. The Labour Party is facing internal divisions on immigration policy and is seeking to counter the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has pledged to deport a significant number of asylum seekers.
The interior ministry estimates the cost of accommodating asylum seekers at an average of £23.25 per person per night in temporary housing and £144 in hotels, in addition to weekly subsistence payments. The total annual cost for asylum accommodation and support was estimated at around £4 billion last year.