International

Labour debates adopting Denmark’s tough but effective immigration model amid internal party clash

Wednesday, 12 November 2025 5:02AM UTC

As Labour considers Denmark’s strict immigration policies that curb asylum claims and promote integration, internal divisions threaten to reshape the party’s approach amid rising small boat crossings and political pressure.

The Labour Party finds itself embroiled in internal conflict as it contemplates whether to adopt Denmark's stringent immigration policies, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly studying the Scandinavian model that has driven asylum claims in Denmark to a 40-year low. Officials have even been sent to Copenhagen to understand how the centre-left Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, have dramatically curbed asylum applications while maintaining broad political support. However, this initiative has sparked fierce opposition within the party, particularly from the left wing, which accuses Mahmood of embracing "far right" policies incompatible with Labour’s values.

Nadia Whittome, an outspoken member of Labour’s Socialist Campaign Group, condemned the Danish approach as "undeniably racist," cautioning against policies that tie welfare and residency strictly to conditions such as language proficiency, employment, and cultural integration. Others within Labour, like MP Gareth Snell, advocate for exploring "best practice" from like-minded parties globally, signalling a divide in the party over how to respond to Britain’s escalating migration challenges. This turmoil is set against the backdrop of rising small boat crossings to the UK, which reached more than 36,954 so far this year, a figure dwarfing Denmark's asylum total of 2,333 in 2023.

Denmark’s approach is built on several controversial but effective measures. Asylum is granted only temporarily, strictly for the duration of conflict in a person's home country, with permanent residency requiring up to eight years of steady employment. Rejected asylum seekers are sent to deportation centres with limited benefits and must even contribute possessions such as jewellery to offset their upkeep costs. Additionally, Danish law bans burkas and enforces strict language and cultural integration rules, with failure resulting in loss of benefits and residency rights. Family reunification is heavily restricted, with rigorous financial and language criteria, a policy that critics argue could breach protections under the UK Equality Act if adopted.

The Danish system also employs a comprehensive transparency strategy, publishing crime statistics by nationality to inform public debate and build support for tough policies. Meanwhile, extreme far-right parties have diminished in influence, with mainstream Social Democrats dominating Danish politics by taking ownership of immigration concerns.

In contrast, the UK has struggled with an unsteady immigration policy. Keir Starmer’s government recently abandoned the controversial Rwanda deportation plan, introduced by the previous Conservative administration and struck down by the Supreme Court as unlawful and ineffective. Instead, Starmer has promised a broad overhaul of the asylum system focusing on faster processing, reducing backlogs, and enhancing border security through new structures such as a Border Security Command and "mission delivery boards." He emphasises a rules-based system that balances effective immigration controls with humanitarian values, aiming to restore public trust without resorting to costly and unpopular measures like expensive hotel accommodations for asylum seekers.

The UK plans to phase out policies such as the "golden ticket," which allowed asylum seekers to settle upon arrival without immediate conditionality, aligning more closely with Denmark's philosophy that settlement must be earned through contributions to society. Collaborative efforts with European nations on controlling illegal migration and offshore processing arrangements are also part of the strategy, although past negotiations for such deals, such as with Albania, have collapsed quickly.

While Denmark’s model has garnered praise as a humane yet tough system that prevents exploitation and encourages integration, it would require Labour in the UK to confront significant internal opposition and political risk. The party’s credibility with voters on immigration, and its broader electoral prospects, may depend on whether it can reconcile these competing pressures and muster the political will to pursue a tough but compassionate approach akin to that of Denmark’s centre-left government.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Daily Mail) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
^[2] (Al Jazeera) - Paragraph 5, 6
^[3] (Irish Times) - Paragraphs 2, 9
^[4] (Reuters) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (Anadolu Agency) - Paragraph 6
^[6] (Upday) - Paragraph 6
^[7] (Irish Times) - Paragraph 2

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15279429/No-ghettos-no-benefits-failed-asylum-seekers-migrants-hand-jewellery-pay-Denmark-smashed-migration-problems-Labour-flounders-face-small-boats.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/6/keir-starmer-says-scrapping-uks-rwanda-migrant-deportation-plan - In July 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the termination of the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The plan, introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2022, aimed to deter migrants from arriving in Britain without permission by sending them to the East African nation. However, it faced numerous legal challenges and was declared unlawful by the UK Supreme Court. Starmer criticized the plan for being ineffective and failing as a deterrent, emphasizing his administration would discontinue ineffective measures. His announcement marked his first major policy decision following a historic landslide election victory. Starmer faces challenges including revitalizing public services and the economy. He intends to establish 'mission delivery boards' to address priority issues such as healthcare and economic growth. The Rwanda deportation scheme, heavily debated during the election campaign, was deemed immoral and impractical by critics. Starmer plans to create a Border Security Command to combat people smuggling through collaboration with international agencies. His decision received positive responses from various organizations advocating against the deportation plan.
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2024/05/29/how-denmarks-social-democrats-stole-far-right-thunder-on-migration/ - In May 2024, Denmark's Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, adopted a hardline approach to immigration, significantly reducing asylum applications. This strategy included measures such as tightening family reunification requirements, including a minimum age of 24 for partners applying to join refugees, and imposing conditions like full-time employment for settlement rights. Additionally, Denmark implemented strict integration policies, including laws allowing the demolition of apartment blocks in areas with a high concentration of residents from 'non-Western' backgrounds. These policies have been effective in reducing asylum claims, with only 747 people seeking asylum in the first four months of 2024, compared to 4,600 in 2022. The approach has sparked debate, with critics arguing it could contravene the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, where race and religious belief are protected characteristics.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-plans-asylum-appeal-reforms-tackle-backlog-phase-out-hotels-2025-08-24/ - In August 2025, the UK government announced plans to overhaul its asylum appeals process to accelerate decisions, tackle a backlog of over 106,000 cases—including 51,000 pending appeals—and reduce reliance on costly hotel accommodations for asylum seekers. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour administration is acting under public pressure, as immigration remains a leading concern and hotel housing costs have surged into the billions annually. The proposed reforms involve creating an independent body of professional adjudicators with statutory powers to prioritize cases, especially those in expensive asylum housing and appeals from foreign national offenders. A new legal requirement would mandate appeal resolutions within 24 weeks. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the current system chaotic and emphasized the need for efficiency and cost reduction. These changes follow a court ruling ordering the evacuation of asylum seekers from a hotel in Epping, which has spurred anti-immigration protests. The government is appealing that ruling, asserting that hotel closures must be handled in an orderly manner.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/labour-leader-keir-starmer-vows-to-overhaul-uk-asylum-system/3215643 - In October 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to overhaul the UK's asylum system, aiming to expedite the processing of asylum claims and address the backlog of over 106,000 cases. The proposed reforms include establishing a new 'fast track returns and enforcement unit' to improve border security and reduce reliance on costly hotel accommodations for asylum seekers. Starmer emphasized the need for a rules-based asylum system that effectively manages immigration while upholding the country's humanitarian values. He criticized the previous government's approach, particularly the Rwanda deportation plan, labeling it ineffective and a misuse of taxpayer funds. The announcement reflects the Labour Party's commitment to reforming the asylum process to restore public confidence and address the challenges posed by unauthorized migration.
https://www.upday.com/uk/politics/pm-ends-golden-ticket-to-uk-settlement-in-asylum-overhaul/56kfsz7 - In October 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the termination of the 'golden ticket' policy, which allowed asylum seekers to settle in the UK upon arrival. This policy change is part of a broader overhaul of the UK's asylum system, aiming to address the surge in small boat crossings and unauthorized migration. Starmer emphasized the need for a system where settlement must be earned through contributions to the country, rather than by paying people smugglers. The government is seeking closer collaboration with European countries to tackle illegal migration, with discussions planned at the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen. The policy shift reflects a significant change in the UK's approach to asylum and immigration, focusing on stricter enforcement and deterrence measures.
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2024/05/29/how-denmarks-social-democrats-stole-far-right-thunder-on-migration/ - In May 2024, Denmark's Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, adopted a hardline approach to immigration, significantly reducing asylum applications. This strategy included measures such as tightening family reunification requirements, including a minimum age of 24 for partners applying to join refugees, and imposing conditions like full-time employment for settlement rights. Additionally, Denmark implemented strict integration policies, including laws allowing the demolition of apartment blocks in areas with a high concentration of residents from 'non-Western' backgrounds. These policies have been effective in reducing asylum claims, with only 747 people seeking asylum in the first four months of 2024, compared to 4,600 in 2022. The approach has sparked debate, with critics arguing it could contravene the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, where race and religious belief are protected characteristics.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative appears to be original, with no exact matches found in recent publications. However, similar discussions about Denmark's immigration policies have been reported in the past, such as in May 2024. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/05/07/immigration-denmark-again-contemplates-outsourcing-asylum-procedures-to-third-countries_6670681_4.html?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data on small boat crossings, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Security_Command?utm_source=openai)) The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Security_Command?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The quotes attributed to Nadia Whittome and Gareth Snell do not appear in earlier material, suggesting they are original or exclusive. No identical quotes were found in previous publications.

Source reliability

Score: 4

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a publication known for sensationalist reporting. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Security_Command?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score: 6

Notes: The claims about the Labour Party considering Denmark's immigration policies align with known political discussions and recent developments. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the sensationalist tone of the Daily Mail raise questions about the narrative's credibility. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Security_Command?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents a plausible scenario but originates from a source with a history of sensationalism, raising concerns about its reliability. The inclusion of updated data alongside recycled material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets further diminishes the narrative's credibility.

Immigration
UK Politics
Party Conflict