Home Secretary seeks a tougher ("Denmark style") scheme

The Immigration Act 1971 section 3(2) states that - 'The Secretary of State shall from time to time ... lay before Parliament statements of the rules, or of any changes in the rules, laid down by him as to the practice to be followed in the administration of this Act for regulating the entry into and stay in the United Kingdom of persons required by this Act to have leave to enter, .....'

The section provides that either House of Parliament may disapprove a statement. Critics have argued that there should be a more rigorous scrutiny and approval process. 

 

The Immigration Act 1971 sets

some broad parameters for what the rules must cover but significant policy changes have been implemented by means of changes to the rules. Examples since 2010 include the introduction of an annual limit on the number of work visas available; changing salary and skill thresholds for work visas; introducing (and raising) minimum salary thresholds for spouse/partner visas; curtailing some migrants’ eligibility to bring family members to the UK; and establishing nationality-specific immigration routes for people from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine. 

It appears that the recently appointed Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood MP) has sent officials to Denmark to study their rules. She has done this with a view to implementing changes probably based on the system in Denmark. According to the report - 'Mahmood wants to reduce incentives that draw people to the UK, while making it easier to expel those with no right to be in the country.'

It is worth noting here that Denmark continues to be a signatory the European Convention on Human Rights and also the Refugee Convention. Neither convention necessarily prevents deportation in appropriate cases.

Keep watching for Mahmood's announcement to Parliament. Possibly during the afternoon of Monday 17 November. It is best to reserve further comment until the detail is published.

Research Briefing - The Immigration Rules 27 July 2024

The Immigration Rules as at 11 November 2025 are HERE