Observations on 'Restoring Order and Control' Asylum Policy Statement

UNHCR provides these comments in response to the UK Government’s policy paper ‘Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy’ published in November 2025. Noting that there will be further details announced in relation to these changes, these comments consider the Government’s proposals as set out in the Asylum Statement and offer initial observations to inform consideration and discussions around asylum reform in the UK.

Given the wide-ranging nature of the proposals, these observations focus on the matters of greatest relevance to UNHCR’s mandate, and do not seek to address every aspect of the Asylum Statement.