Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is set to outline a comprehensive plan to overhaul the UK's asylum system, focusing on reforms to family reunion processes, ending the use of costly asylum hotels, and strengthening border security.

She emphasizes that these measures, including increased deportations and reforms to manage asylum claims, are aimed at addressing the chaos inherited from previous policies and reducing reliance on expensive hotels, which have faced protests following incidents such as an asylum seeker's sexual assault charge.

Cooper will defend her approach by stressing the importance of sustainable, manageable solutions over unrealistic promises like mass deportations or reintroducing the Rwanda scheme, reaffirming the UK’s tradition of offering sanctuary within controlled immigration rules.

Despite record low crossings in August 2025, with only 55 boats and 3,567 arrivals, the total number of crossings for the year remains the highest ever at 29,003, highlighting ongoing migration pressures.

Recent efforts, including European operations that seized 45 dinghies at the Bulgarian border, have contributed to the lowest Channel crossings since 2019, with the National Crime Agency disrupting 347 criminal networks in 2024/25, a 40% increase from the previous year.

Cooper will highlight these recent successes in tackling people smuggling and border security reforms as part of her broader strategy to control illegal crossings and manage migration effectively.

Opposition critics, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, have dismissed Cooper’s efforts as a distraction, citing record-high illegal crossings and increased asylum hotel occupancy during Labour’s tenure, accusing the government of losing control.

Critics argue that 2025 has been the worst year in history for illegal crossings and asylum hotel use, with opposition figures claiming the government has failed to manage the situation.

In response to criticism, Cooper announced new measures such as the detention of migrants under a deal with France, with deportations expected soon, and reforms aimed at reducing the asylum appeals backlog and pressure on accommodation.

She stresses the importance of proper control and management of the asylum system based on rules and enforcement to ensure sustainable solutions.

Cooper also defended her policies against opposition criticism, reiterating that solutions should be sustainable and manageable, rather than based on unrealistic promises.

The Court of Appeal is set to deliver its judgment in the Bell Hotel case, after the government succeeded in overturning an injunction requiring asylum seekers to vacate the site, amid ongoing protests and arrests outside the hotel.