Keir Starmer’s government has come under intensifying pressure in 2025 over its asylum and immigration policy. Starmer’s immigration policy has been the subject of debate. The increase in small-boat Channel crossings and the use of asylum hotels have sparked a politically charged dispute. Labour leaders have criticised the leadership for being incompetent. A recent poll revealed that 71% of the public — including 56% of Labour supporters — disapprove of the Prime Minister’s approach. That has put the party into a state of panic, as trust in the public is slowly draining away. The article examines Labour’s handling of immigration and the small‑boat crisis under Starmer.
Small-Boat Crossings Set New Record
By late August 2025, more than 28,000 migrants had crossed to the English Channel in small boats. This represents a 46% increase compared to the same period in 2024. It is significant because it shows that in defiance of vows to step up controls, the tide is building momentum. All arrivals require processing upon arrival, including housing and security screening. This sudden acceleration has turned immigration into a key issue for voters at the ballot box. Starmer’s immigration policy has done nothing to stop hazardous travel, critics argue. Government allies argue that extraneous exigencies, such as foreign wars and economic distress abroad, necessitate such border crossings. However, the statistics continue to mount, and they dominate the headlines. Daily new arrivals on southern shores fuel a politics of intransigent crisis.
Polling Data Highlights Public Discontent
The new YouGov poll reports the unequivocal message: the public is unhappy. More than seven in ten electors also find the way Starmer has managed the asylum process unacceptable. More troublesome for Labour, however, is the fact that a significantly larger proportion of its own supporters agree. This is dangerous ground for a ruling party. Immigration has become the master issue underpinning other issues in the electorate’s agendas. Thirty-seven per cent of the public now considers migration to be the most urgent issue, ahead of the economy, health care, or education. This shift poses a major risk for Labour. Elections are often decided on competence, and if voters believe the government cannot secure borders, they may turn to rivals promising tougher measures. Many already describe Starmer’s immigration policy as slow, reactive, and lacking a coherent strategy.
Government Response: Reforms and Starmer’s Immigration Policy
There has been a response from the government in the face of growing pressure. The government has introduced different reforms. The Home Secretary has announced plans to speed up asylum rulings by replacing some tribunals with independent judges. The aim is to clear more than 50,000 outstanding cases. Labour would also like to negotiate deportation agreements with France for the removal of illegal migrant migrants. Ministers maintain that the accelerated decisions and greater deportation will relieve pressure on housing. Critics, however, argue that the steps are insufficient in comparison to the magnitude of the problem. Starmer’s immigration policy has been described as piecemeal and lacking a holistic approach by some experts. Experts and former Labour leaders have cautioned that the crisis would worsen if stronger measures are not pursued. There are even calls for the suspension of specific international arrangements to facilitate quick evacuations.
The Asylum Hotel Scandal
A much publicised aspect of the crisis is the accommodation of asylum seekers in hotels. More than 32,000 people were accommodated in mid-2025. The price is exorbitant, and neighbouring communities sometimes rebel against new developments. Councils have sued some to prevent the use of local hotels. In another case, a judge granted an injunction to stop transfers. The government promises to end hotel reliance by 2029, but its detractors say that is too little, too late. Every delay further fuels the public’s anger and rumours of excess. To the majority of the voters, seeing hotels serve as the place of asylum seekers’ accommodation is a symbol of failure on the part of the government. Critics have attacked Starmer’s immigration policy for providing expensive stopgaps instead of practical solutions. Politicians will continue to politicise it until affordable alternatives, such as specifically designed accommodation facilities, become available.
Opposition Parties Dig In
The crisis has given opposition voices a louder platform. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has positioned itself as the toughest party on immigration. The polls suggest that well over a quarter of the electorate now place most trust in Reform UK to manage immigration. That is more than either Labour or the Conservatives. The figures are terrifying for a government that came into office with the promise of competence. The Conservatives also continue to condemn Starmer on the right, although they themselves stand accused of past failures. Labour’s most significant danger is that immigration becomes the next big issue of the election. If it does, the Starmer policy on immigration will be a negative, not a positive. The public will penalise Labour not on ideological grounds but on grounds of perceived weakness and hesitancy.
Legal and Human Rights Debate
The second is the legal system. Britain is under a legal obligation to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention. These conventions limit the government’s actions. Some politicians believe the UK must consider temporary derogations from certain of its commitments to tackle the crisis more aggressively. Human rights organisations oppose such attempts, warning that they would harm Britain’s global standing. Starmer has sought to stay in the middle, promising to uphold international law while also advocating for effective reform. Such calibrated action, however, will not prove popular, with individuals calling for immediate action. Starmer’s immigration policy is where law, politics, and morality meet. It is naturally difficult to balance all of them, and any breakdown threatens to alienate both progressives and conservatives.
Financial Cost and Public Perception
The asylum system is also a money matter. At its peak, hotel use was costing the government tens of millions of dollars per day. Even after their reductions, the bill still runs into billions of pounds annually. During years of austerity, the public asks why the government wastes so much on hotels instead of funding hospitals and schools. The government maintains that future savings will come from processing reforms. However, politicians pay a political cost when they associate tax increases with expensive asylum accommodation. Media reports make expenses look wasteful. Any report of a hotel fee questions the competence of the government. Starmer’s immigration policy is not just being put to the test on grounds of humanitarianism, but also on affordability. With no savings in sight, outrage on the streets is likely to escalate.
Long-term Threats to Labour
If Labour loses the public’s trust again, its vote is at risk. Immigration addresses deep cultural and security concerns. If a government appears vulnerable on its borders, its mood is difficult to reverse. Internal critics already expect the party to lose support from its key constituencies. The formation of Reform UK demonstrates how quickly voter discontent can reshape politics. For Starmer, it is not so much a question of managing asylum numbers. It is a matter of proving leadership and control. Unless Starmer rebrands the immigration policy as an unambiguous and irresistible strategy, Labour’s broader vision for the economy and social transformation can be drowned out.
Navigating the Immigration Crossroads
The migration crisis is the biggest challenge to Starmer’s premiership. Recorded small-boat crossings, overcrowded hotels, eye-watering bills, and record-low poll ratings all threaten to undermine his government’s legitimacy. With 71% of voters discontented, it is now. Starmer’s immigration policy hangs in the balance. Starmer can move swiftly to rebuild trust or see Labour lose the ability to set the national agenda. The danger for Labour is clear: if voters believe the party cannot manage borders, they will try something else. The next few months will tell whether the government can make its cautious changes into a coherent ideology. If they don’t, there is a risk of discrediting not just Starmer’s leadership but Labour’s prospects in the next general election.
