The UK government is reopening its refugee resettlement scheme and creating new legal routes that will prioritise Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce the change at the Labour conference, after the scheme was effectively frozen for two years; arrivals will be capped, screened with security and criminality checks, and given indefinite leave to remain with a five-year path to settlement, unlike people arriving irregularly.
Why it matters: The move creates a new lawful path for some refugees while keeping numbers limited, affecting who can reach the UK without using irregular routes. Supporters say it restores a controlled humanitarian channel; critics and refugee groups disagree over whether the small scale will reduce Channel crossings or raise security and integration concerns.
Fraser Myers
2026.09.29
85% relevant
This article references the same underlying announcement at the Labour conference: Shabana Mahmood's plan to bring more asylum seekers or refugees to the UK from Afghanistan and Palestine. It adds that the move was presented alongside a retreat from previously proposed migration reforms tied to indefinite leave to remain and welfare access.
Kurt Zindulka
2026.09.29
97% relevant
This article is another report on the same underlying event: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's announcement at the Labour conference that the UK will reopen the resettlement scheme, starting this year with Afghans and Palestinians, especially women and girls. It adds political reaction from Reform UK and notes that Mahmood did not give a numerical cap.
Jessica Elgot and Rajeev Syal
2026.09.27
100% relevant
This article appears to be the first report of the UK government's planned reopening of the resettlement scheme and the new priority routes for Afghan women and girls and Palestinians.
← Back to all stories