UK King’s Speech 2026: Keir Starmer Unveils Major Immigration and Asylum Reforms. King’s Speech outlines the UK PM’s plan to reform the immigration system.
In the King’s Speech, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlined plans for extensive reforms and pledged to win back the public’s “trust” and “control” over immigration.
Starmer’s commitment follows data showing that since 2018, over 200,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach the UK.
During the state opening of parliament, Starmer presented the government’s proposals for legislation, stating that the Asylum and Immigration Bill “will deliver a firm but fair immigration system that restores control and earns public trust.”
The king stated that upcoming legislation would “increase confidence in the security of the immigration and asylum systems” during his address to the House of Lords.
According to the most recent government statistics, there have been 200,209 arrivals since the start of current records.
The amount is based on official data collected from 2018 to 2025 by the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, as well as preliminary data collected thus far this year.
Asylum claims in Britain are “more attractive than elsewhere in Europe,” according to the government, and “radical reform was needed to address the scale of illegal arrivals.”
According to a document outlining the Bill’s specifics, over 400,000 people have applied for asylum since 2021, and over 100,000 of them are living in taxpayer-funded housing that costs £4 billion annually. The figures cited indicate that asylum claims have increased by 74% since 2021, compared to a 26% rise throughout the EU.
According to the government, the bill’s contents, the most of which have already been made public, are intended to give Britain the authority it needs to expel individuals who have “no right to be here.”
This entails granting temporary refugee status and negotiating further agreements with nations to repatriate deported citizens.
The law reaffirms efforts to expel foreign offenders and expedite removals.
The administration intended to implement “immediate forced removal of those who have exhausted all appeals” after establishing a new appeals panel.
In the interim, efforts to “root out false claims” from adult migrants posing as youngsters will continue to strengthen age evaluations.
In order to “prevent exploitation of the system,” the legislation would also attempt to limit the use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides the right to respect for private and family life. Some migrants who are not eligible for a visa or asylum depend on this provision.
Charities cautioned that the actions would not address the underlying reasons why individuals seek asylum.
“A new immigration bill is needed, but not another one built on the false promise that weakening rights and restricting appeals will somehow fix a broken system,” stated Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK.
“Human rights should not be closed whenever it is politically advantageous.”
“The immigration reforms promised today risk denying survivors a fair hearing with the very real prospect that they will be wrongfully refused protection and sent back into the hands of their torturers,” stated Freedom from Torture.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell warned the Commons during the King’s Speech debate that she would not back immigration system changes that “traumatise children.”
“Labour has an immense obligation to be bold and ambitious, not for those who take all they can, but for those who serve, work, and play their part and to take away the stigma and barriers for those who can’t,” the York Central MP stated.
For this reason, I beg the government to uphold the rights of people on indefinite leave to stay as new communities collaborate with established communities. I also simply caution the government not to constrain traumatised youngsters, as the government is currently discussing on. I’m not going to support. Every youngster must be treated with the utmost decency.
By George and Flora Thompson, Political Staff of the Press Association