Reform UK pledges to suspend British asylum system if elected

Reform UK has announced plans to shut down the asylum system in the United Kingdom for an entire parliamentary term if it forms a government, BBC News reported. The party stated that it would reject all new asylum applications and void all existing ones, marking all claimants for deportation. [1]

Under the proposed policy, Reform UK would abolish the asylum tribunal system that processes appeals, according to BBC News. Claimants involved in more than 90,000 outstanding appeal cases would face deportation, and the government would grant no refugee status or humanitarian protection. [1]

Labour chairperson Bridget Phillipson criticized the plans, calling them a clear sign of desperation and weakness, BBC News reported. Reform UK previously gained five seats in the House of Commons during the July 2024 general election. [1][3]

The announcement comes during the term of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office in July 2026, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [4]