On the very first day back after Parliament’s summer recess, migration dominated the agenda.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was at the centre of it all, facing pointed questions from her own Labour colleagues as well as fierce criticism from the opposition.
With small boats continuing to arrive across the Channel and protests outside asylum hotels growing louder, Cooper tried to seize control of the conversation by announcing a series of new measures.
Family Reunion Route Put on Pause
One of the biggest announcements was the suspension of new applications under the refugee family reunion scheme.
Cooper argued that local councils were struggling to cope, with some reporting that over a quarter of their homelessness cases were linked to family reunion requests.
She also warned that people-smuggling gangs were exploiting the promise of family reunification as a “pull factor” to persuade migrants to risk the dangerous Channel crossing.
For now, refugees will face the same migration rules as other applicants, with more detailed reforms expected next spring.
Sources suggest the UK could follow other European countries, which delay family reunion rights for at least two years after asylum approval.
Pushback from Labour MPs
Not everyone on Labour’s benches was satisfied. Veteran MP Graham Stringer said the proposals would fall short, pointing out that many migrants were arriving from France—a safe country—not directly from conflict zones.
He suggested the government should follow Denmark’s example of much stricter asylum rules.
Cooper defended her approach, highlighting a new “one in, one out” pilot deal with France that would, for the first time, allow the UK to send migrants back across the Channel.
In return, approved applicants in France would be legally resettled in the UK.
She said the first returns could begin later this month.
Concerns About Asylum Hotels
The debate also turned to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, an issue that has sparked protests across the country.
Labour MP Jodie Gosling pressed Cooper on how communities would be safeguarded, especially after violent clashes outside asylum accommodation in Nuneaton.
Cooper responded that the government was tightening border checks and working on stronger enforcement partnerships between police, immigration officials, and local councils.
She stressed that anyone coming to the UK “needs to abide by our laws.”
Tackling Illegal Work and the Gig Economy
Another pressing concern was raised by Labour MP Sally Jameson, who accused major delivery companies of turning a blind eye to asylum seekers working illegally as drivers.
She suggested a windfall tax on these firms to help offset the cost of the crisis.
Cooper pushed back slightly but acknowledged the risk, noting that the Home Office had already struck a deal with companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to help flag riders without the legal right to work.
A Backlash from Rights Groups
Human rights organisations immediately condemned the suspension of family reunion applications.
Amnesty International called it “reckless and wrong,” while the Refugee Council warned it could push more people into the arms of smugglers.
The group stressed that the scheme had overwhelmingly benefited women and children.
Starmer and Labour’s Balancing Act
Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighed in as well, saying he “completely understands” public concerns about migration.
He promised to accelerate the closure of asylum hotels, aiming to finish well before the 2029 deadline.
Starmer insisted that border control, hotel closures, and migrant returns were top priorities, adding that local people did not want asylum hotels in their towns—and he agreed with them.
Attacks from the Conservatives
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch seized the opportunity to question Labour’s resolve.
She argued that Labour “does not have the stomach” for serious immigration reform, pointing out that the Conservatives had pushed for tougher deportation laws that Labour opposed.
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp echoed those criticisms, saying that “tweaks” to asylum rules would not solve what he described as both a border and public safety crisis.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the heated exchanges, Downing Street has made it clear there are no plans to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, even though some critics argue that would be the only way to fully regain control over asylum policy.
But for now, Cooper’s announcement has set the tone for what promises to be one of the most divisive and politically charged issues in the months ahead.
With councils under strain, communities on edge, and rights groups warning of humanitarian fallout, the government is under pressure from all sides to deliver a system that is both tough and fair.
