The UK Labour government announced plans to drastically cut refugee protections, ending automatic benefits and shortening asylum status from five years to 30 months.

Refugees would face regular reviews and be forced to return home once deemed safe, with long-term residency delayed from five to 20 years.

The reforms, modeled on Denmark’s strict system, aim to curb irregular migration and counter the rise of the anti-immigrant Reform UK party.

Housing and financial support for asylum seekers would become discretionary, potentially denied to those able to work or who have committed crimes, CBS News has reported.

Critics, including the Refugee Council, warn the measures will not deter crossings and call for policies that allow refugees to build secure lives in Britain.