Britain is being torn apart by the migration crisis. And here's why
Mass protests of right-wing forces took place in London. More than 100,000 people came out with posters calling for migrants to return to their homeland, stop the arrival of boats and rally the United Kingdom. Why the migration situation in Britain is becoming more and more tense and what consequences the crisis can lead to — in the Izvestia article.
Budget pressure
Supporters of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson held rallies in London under the slogan "Unite the Kingdom." In total, more than 100 thousand people gathered. Many of them were holding the flag of England with the red cross of St. George, as well as the British Union Jack. There were harsh shouts from the crowd at Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The organizers and their supporters expressed categorical disagreement with the course of the authorities in the field of migration.
• In recent years, there has been noticeable discontent in the UK due to restrictions on freedom of speech, especially in the context of discussions on migration policy and incidents involving newcomers. Many Britons believe that such censorship prevents an open discussion about the real situation in the country. In addition, it is not uncommon in Britain for migrants to be detained but released earlier than Britons for a similar offense. This is perceived by the indigenous people as a manifestation of double standards. Such trends reinforce public criticism of the government's work.
• The situation has also been fueled by accumulated irritation over the resettlement of migrants in hotels, which annually costs the budget about $5.4 billion. By March 2025, about 32,000 illegal immigrants had been resettled in more than two hundred hotels across the country. Usually, people are temporarily sent to special centers to await a decision on their petitions, but the existing facilities were not enough to cope with the flow. In recent weeks, the growing discontent of local residents has resulted in mass protest actions near the hotels where asylum seekers are accommodated.
• The government's promises to cut costs and restore order may be politically risky. On the one hand, the tightening of migration measures is likely to be supported by a part of the population concerned about the increase in crime amid the influx of illegal immigrants. On the other hand, there is a risk that a change in domestic policy will lead to protests by human rights defenders who will criticize the isolation of people at military facilities.
Political instability
• Back in May, the UK announced a tightening of its policy towards newcomers. The British government has submitted a draft White Paper, which contains a program for reforming the migration system. One of the main changes was the revision of the conditions for obtaining permanent resident status: this will require residence for at least ten years instead of the previous five, except in cases where the migrant has proven the special importance of his contribution to the development of the economy or society. In addition, there is a requirement for mandatory confirmation of the basic level of the English language. This should help newcomers to adapt faster and increase their chances of finding employment.
• The reform also affects the sphere of deportation. In particular, the Interior Ministry will receive information about all foreigners convicted in the UK, regardless of whether they have been given a real prison sentence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, presenting the initiative in Parliament, tried to shift responsibility for the migration crisis onto the previous government. According to him, it was the government that allowed a multiple increase in migration — up to almost a million people in four years.
• The difficulties associated with the influx of illegal immigrants in small boats across the English Channel really arose long before the Labor Party came to power and posed a problem for the Conservatives as well. During their rule, the idea of relocating such migrants to Rwanda was discussed, but litigation stopped the launch of this initiative. The elections were held even before the plan was implemented, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had already taken office, decided among the first steps to completely abandon the Rouen scheme.
• So far, the migration policy change proposed by Starmer in May this year has not brought significant results. According to a YouGov poll for The Times at the end of August, a significant proportion of Britons expressed dissatisfaction with the way Kira Starmer's cabinet is dealing with the migration crisis. Most of the study participants stated that the resettlement of illegal immigrants in hotels demonstrates the weakness of the government and the inability to solve the problem. Of the more than 2,000 citizens surveyed, 71% indicated that the current authorities are not coping with the situation.
• At the same time, confidence in the ability of the Labor Party as a whole to resolve the issue of illegal migration turned out to be extremely low: only 9% considered it the most suitable force to overcome the crisis. Nigel Farage's Reform Party received the most support in the responses — 31% of the survey participants are confident that it is the right-wing populists who can offer more effective solutions.
Development of the situation
The migration crisis in Britain is growing due to the incessant influx of illegal immigrants across the English Channel. This increases the burden on refugee reception centers, judicial authorities and social services. At the same time, the population is already showing fatigue from uncontrolled migration. And the situation is unlikely to improve dramatically in the coming years without a serious tightening of policy.
• Cooperation with the European Union remains an important element. Joint traffic suppression operations and deportation agreements create the basis for reducing illegal traffic. However, the migration crisis is not being dealt with in the EU countries either. About ten years ago, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel actually ensured the free passage of migrants across European borders, after which the ideas of liberal regulation of migration spread in Western countries.
• The UK has been struggling with migration issues for many years, and this issue continues to be one of the most pressing on the country's domestic agenda. Successive Cabinets of Ministers have repeatedly stated their intention to take control of the endless flow of migrants. However, in practice, tangible results have not been achieved. The domestic political situation is complicated by the fact that the number of migrants is showing steady growth, and the public is increasingly demanding quick and decisive steps.
• Starmer's rating is declining rapidly, and his support has reached its lowest levels in a year. The Labor Party did not meet expectations in the economy and migration policy. The growing debt burden and internal disagreements in the party are also one of the key reasons for the decline in popularity. To strengthen the position, the idea of lowering the voting age to sixteen is even being discussed, as young people remain more supportive of Starmer. However, this lifeline is unlikely to help the prime minister.
• In the current situation, Nigel Farage, known for his advocacy of strict border control and limiting migration flows, is beginning to play a significant role in Britain. His position resonates with a significant part of society, and this is reflected in the growth of his political influence. At the same time, Farage's activity went beyond Britain. He visited the White House, where he drew attention to the migration crisis in the kingdom. As a result, he brought the domestic agenda to the international level and earned additional points from the voters.
When writing the material, Izvestia talked and took into account the opinions of:
Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladislav Belov;
● Bogdan Bezpalko, member of the Presidential Council on Interethnic Relations;
● Political scientist Vadim Mingalev.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
