Why Labour is going Danish on immigration

In this episode of The Guardian Today, the focus is on how the UK Labour government is planning to model its immigration policies after Denmark's stringent approach. Denmark, known for its tough stance on asylum claims, has managed to reduce such claims to a 40-year low, while net migration has dropped significantly. This has raised questions about the impact of similar policies in the UK, where asylum claims have surged, and communities are increasingly polarized due to immigration issues.

Niles Heinzkov, the political editor of the Danish daily Politiken, discusses how immigration has long been a contentious topic in Denmark, fueled by the rise of the far-right Danish People's Party. The Social Democratic Party, initially resistant to concerns about immigration, shifted its stance in 2015 after experiencing electoral losses to this party, leading to a stricter immigration regime that explicitly discourages immigration, particularly from Muslim countries.

Denmark's approach to immigration involves tightening laws around family reunification and lowering benefits for asylum seekers, alongside significant cash incentives for voluntary return to migrants. The UK Labour government is expected to announce similar measures, including doubling the residency requirement for indefinite leave to remain and imposing stricter citizenship criteria.

The episode also touches on the broader political implications, highlighting how such immigration policies have led to feelings of insecurity within minority communities in Denmark and questioning whether the UK can effectively adopt this model given its more significantly diverse immigrant population. The conversation suggests that while the Danish model might appear effective in reducing asylum claims, it comes with substantial social costs and politically charged consequences.