Overview
The UK Conservative Party has outlined a comprehensive set of border and immigration reforms as it opens its annual conference in Manchester. Central to the plans is a pledge to remove 750,000 illegal migrants within five years if the party wins the next election. The proposals also include narrowing the grounds for asylum and shifting appeals away from the courts toward a Home Office-led process.
Key elements of the proposal
The party says it would prohibit people who enter the country unlawfully from ever seeking asylum, and it would bar most rejected asylum claims from being appealed in courts. Instead, appeals would be handled by Home Office officials. Border enforcement would be strengthened through a rebranded “Removals Force,” with funding doubled to about £1.6 billion per year and a mandate to remove at least 150,000 people annually.
<h3 How the removal target would work
Officials would be instructed to carry out removals within hours or a few days, with rapid processing at the border and after detention if necessary. The plan relies on expanding detention capacity for processed removals, although the exact location and conditions of detention would depend on future policy details.
Legal and procedural shifts
The Conservatives say they would abolish the Immigration Tribunal, moving the entire appeals process for failed asylum claims to a team of officials within the Home Office. They also propose ending taxpayer-funded legal aid in immigration cases, arguing that claims would be fairly assessed against clear criteria without the need for lawyers. A broader plan would empower police to check arrest records against biometric border data and would allow facial recognition tools to be used without public disclosure.
<h3 Human rights and international commitments
As part of the strategy, the party has signaled a move to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in an effort to curb asylum appeals. Critics argue that this could conflict with long-standing human rights obligations and potentially affect UK standing in Europe on broader security and judicial cooperation. Supporters say the changes are necessary to regain control over borders and reduce delays in removing those who do not have a legal right to stay.
<h2 Political context and reaction
The conference in Manchester comes amid fluctuating poll numbers for the governing party and growing pressure from rivals who warn that aggressive border measures could harden the immigration debate without addressing underlying economic and humanitarian concerns. Party leadership under Kemi Badenoch and the challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK add urgency to present a compelling, yet practical, platform on immigration and national security.
<h2 What this could mean for asylum policy and the courts
Proponents argue the reforms would speed up removals, reduce pull factors for illegal entry, and provide a clearer, faster processing route for genuine cases. Opponents contend that removing tribunals and restricting asylum grounds may leave vulnerable individuals without adequate protection, and could threaten the country’s commitment to human rights standards. The policy’s reception will hinge on how the plan is implemented in practice, including safeguards, oversight, and the handling of appeals that currently serve as a check on removal decisions.
<h2 Looking ahead
If the Conservatives secure a mandate, the party would seek to operationalize the Removals Force, expand detention capacity, and tighten asylum eligibility while attempting to maintain public confidence in the fairness and efficiency of the system. The coming weeks will be crucial as lawmakers, civil society groups, and international partners weigh the potential implications for Britain’s immigration landscape and its standing on human rights and rule-of-law commitments.
