The UK’s new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has warned that visas could be suspended for countries that refuse to take back migrants, setting the tone for a hardline approach to immigration control.
On just her third day in office, Mahmood declared she was prepared to do “whatever it takes” to end small boat crossings across the Channel. Her remarks follow a record surge in arrivals, with more than 30,000 migrants reaching British shores by dinghies so far this year.
Speaking to reporters, Mahmood condemned the “utterly unacceptable” scale of the crossings, vowing that the Labour government would enforce its border policies with new resolve. She stressed that the possibility of suspending visas was already under discussion with the UK’s closest intelligence allies.
She explained that talks were ongoing with the UK’s “Five Eyes” partners, namely the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, on how to coordinate tougher action against countries reluctant to repatriate their citizens.
“For countries that do not play ball, we’ve been talking about how we can take much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries,” Mahmood said.
“For us, that means including possibly the cutting of visas in the future, just to say, you know, we do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules, and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you do need to take them back.”
Shabana Mahmood
Reiterating her message, Mahmood insisted that such action was firmly rooted in Labour’s platform. “This is a Labour government with Labour policy and Labour proposals,” she said.
“We’ve been looking at this for some time. It’s been discussed already across the government and I’m very clear that there has to be a strong approach to maintaining our border, and that does mean saying to countries who do not take their citizens back that we’re not simply going to allow our laws to remain unenforced.”
Shabana Mahmood
Her appointment as home secretary is viewed as the most consequential reshuffle move made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following the resignation of Angela Rayner.
Plans To Move Asylum Seekers From Hotels
The government is grappling with mounting pressure over migration, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party seeking to exploit the crisis politically. At the same time, the UK has negotiated return agreements with several nations, including Albania, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Iraq, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Georgia, Somalia, Serbia, and Algeria.
A separate deal with France to return migrants could collapse if the French government falls, as many expect.
Mahmood’s wider immigration strategy is set to include relocating asylum seekers out of hotels and into military facilities, following a summer of heated protests. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that officials are already scoping potential barracks sites with Ministry of Defence planners.
“Rebuilding our reputation on the world stage is how we tackle serious organised crime and secure our borders,” Mahmood told journalists.
As the Labour government attempts to balance humanitarian obligations with growing public concern over border control, Mahmood’s uncompromising stance signals a dramatic shift in tone. The coming weeks will test whether threats of visa suspensions and tougher return agreements can translate into a real reduction in Channel crossings.
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