Diplomatic Tensions Rise Over UK Asylum Policy

A diplomatic dispute erupted between the United Kingdom and Albania on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama accused British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of employing “populist far-right” rhetoric and “ethnic stereotyping.” The accusation followed Mahmood’s announcement of a major overhaul of the UK’s asylum system, during which she singled out “around 700 Albanian families” living in taxpayer-funded housing after their asylum claims were rejected. The reforms, detailed in a 33-page policy paper titled “Restoring Order and Control,” aim to significantly tighten the UK's approach to illegal migration and asylum.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Rama expressed his disappointment, questioning how a Labour Home Secretary could “so weakly echo the rhetoric of the far-right populist.” He highlighted the successful partnership between the two nations on migration, noting that since a joint agreement was signed in late 2022, irregular arrivals from Albania to the UK have nearly ceased. Official UK government statistics confirm a significant increase in returns to Albania following the agreement. Rama argued that Albanians are net contributors to the British economy and that singling them out is a “disturbing and inappropriate act of demagogy.”

Sweeping Changes to UK Asylum System

The controversy stems from what Home Secretary Mahmood has described as the “most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times.” Unveiled on Monday, 17 November 2025, the new policies are designed to deter illegal migration, particularly small boat crossings of the English Channel, and to “restore order and control” to a system Mahmood labelled “out of control and unfair.” The reforms are partly modelled on Denmark's restrictive asylum policies.

Key pillars of the new framework include replacing permanent refugee status with a temporary one, subject to review every 30 months. The path to permanent settlement for those who arrive in the UK through irregular means will be extended from the current five years to 20 years. The government will also revoke the statutory duty to provide housing and financial support to all asylum seekers, making it discretionary. Support could be withdrawn from those who are deemed able to work, break the law, or fail to comply with removal directions. Furthermore, the reforms will curtail the appeals process, limiting claimants to a single appeal, and restrict the use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights—the right to family life—as grounds to prevent deportation.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

While the immediate diplomatic fallout has been with Albania, the UK's policy shift has broader implications for asylum seekers globally, including those from East Africa. The UK government has indicated the creation of new, capped “safe and legal routes” for refugees, specifically mentioning those from conflict zones like Sudan and Eritrea. This is particularly relevant for Kenya, which hosts a large population of refugees from these nations.

However, the stringent new conditions, including the extended wait for permanent settlement and the temporary nature of refugee status, will create significant uncertainty for any future asylum seekers from the region. The move to make asylum support discretionary rather than a statutory duty also raises concerns for the welfare of those awaiting decisions. The British High Commission in Nairobi has previously stated that immigration changes are not country-specific but are part of a general tightening of the system. Kenyan citizens have already been affected by previous rule changes, such as increased income thresholds for family visas and restrictions on overseas care workers bringing dependents. The full impact of these latest reforms on East African nationals seeking refuge in the UK will require further investigation as the policies are implemented.

A System Under Pressure

The UK government has justified the reforms by pointing to rising asylum claims, which reached 109,343 in the year ending March 2025, a 17% increase on the previous year. Officials argue the changes are necessary to reduce the “pull factor” of the UK’s comparatively generous system and to alleviate pressure on public services. The cost of housing asylum seekers has become a significant political issue, with a National Audit Office report indicating that the expected cost for the decade between 2019 and 2029 has tripled from an estimated £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion. As of early 2025, 38,000 people were being accommodated in 222 hotels, a costly component of the system. The government has stated its intention to end the use of asylum hotels. The reforms represent a fundamental recalibration of the UK's approach to its international obligations, shifting from a model of permanent protection towards a more conditional and temporary sanctuary.