Publication

This note provides an overview of the British Government’s immigration and asylum policy priorities, and the progress it has made so far in implementing them. It focuses on the objectives set by the Home Office and the UK Border Agency, aiming to reduce net migration whilst simultaneously attracting more of the "brightest and best" migrants, whose presence is deemed to be most beneficial to the UK. The author analizes the Government's review of all immigration categories and routes to permanent settlement, and its actions and initiatives to change gradually the eligibility criteria and conditions. Reforms led by other government departments are also directly affecting persons within the immigration and asylum system, such as recent developments in civil legal aid.