Britain’s new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned that the UK could suspend visas from countries that refuse to “play ball” on migrant returns deals, as small boat Channel crossings exceeded 30,000 for the year in record time.
Speaking during her first major engagement as Home Secretary, Ms Mahmood hosted counterparts from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance in London on Sunday to coordinate international efforts against people-smuggling gangs. The meeting with officials from the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand came just 48 hours after she replaced Yvette Cooper in Friday’s cabinet reshuffle triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation.
The Birmingham Ladywood MP struck a tough stance on immigration enforcement, stating that visa restrictions could be imposed on nations refusing to accept their citizens back. “For countries that do not play ball, we’ve been talking about how we can take much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries,” Ms Mahmood told reporters.
Record-Breaking Channel Crossings
The Home Secretary’s threats come as the government faces mounting pressure over the migration crisis. Some 1,097 people arrived in the UK aboard 17 boats on Saturday alone, pushing the total for 2025 to 30,100, according to Home Office figures analysed by PA news agency.
This represents a 37 per cent increase compared to the same period last year (22,028) and marks the earliest point in any calendar year that the 30,000 threshold has been crossed since records began in 2018. The figure is also 37 per cent higher than at this stage in 2023 (21,918).
Ms Mahmood branded the numbers “utterly unacceptable” and accused “vile people smugglers” of “wreaking havoc on our borders”. She expressed confidence that a returns deal agreed with France last month would begin “imminently” to help bring the crisis under control.
“I’m very clear that there has to be a strong approach to maintaining our border,” she stated. “And that does mean saying to countries who do not take their citizens back that we’re not simply going to allow our laws to remain unenforced.”
Five Eyes Coordination
During Sunday’s summit, Ms Mahmood met with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem alongside counterparts from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The alliance discussed new measures to protect borders and target smuggling networks operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The Home Secretary emphasised that visa suspension would be one tool in a coordinated approach amongst Five Eyes nations. “For us, that means including possibly, the cutting of visas in the future. Just to say, you know, we do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules,” she explained.
The meeting also addressed broader security concerns including measures to combat child sexual abuse online and strategies to prevent the spread of deadly synthetic opioids. Officials indicated that intelligence sharing between the Five Eyes partners would be enhanced to track criminal networks facilitating illegal migration.
Ministers are reportedly examining the use of military bases to house asylum seekers in “temporary but adequate” accommodation as Sir Keir Starmer attempts to regain control of the migration crisis that has dominated his government’s first year in office.
Political Pressures Mount
The timing of Ms Mahmood’s appointment could hardly be more challenging. Labour currently trails Nigel Farage’s Reform UK by approximately 10 points in national opinion polls, with immigration remaining voters’ top concern. Reform UK held its annual conference in Birmingham over the weekend, where Mr Farage delivered an exuberant speech capitalising on the government’s struggles.
The record-breaking crossing figures under Labour’s watch will inevitably fuel Reform UK’s momentum as the party positions itself as the primary opposition on immigration issues. The crisis has become a defining challenge for Starmer’s administration, which secured a landslide victory just 14 months ago but has since seen its popularity plummet to historic lows.
Ms Mahmood’s elevation to Home Secretary came as part of an emergency cabinet reshuffle following Angela Rayner’s resignation on Friday. The Deputy Prime Minister stepped down after an ethics investigation found she had breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on a property purchase by £40,000.
Not Standing for Deputy Leader
In a separate development, Ms Mahmood announced she would not be running for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party following Rayner’s departure from that role. The decision allows her to focus entirely on her new responsibilities at the Home Office during this critical period.
The Deputy Leader position, elected by party members rather than appointed by the Prime Minister, will require a leadership election with a timeline to be set by Labour’s National Executive Committee. Early speculation suggests potential candidates could include Emily Thornberry, Rosena Allin-Khan, and possibly temporary appointees before the party conference beginning 28 September.
Rayner’s resignation has deprived Starmer of a key political ally who bridged the gap between the party’s centrist leadership and its left-wing grassroots. Her departure, combined with the migration crisis, has left the government increasingly vulnerable to criticism from both left and right.
Previous Policy Approaches
The new Home Secretary inherits a complex policy landscape shaped by both Conservative and Labour approaches to Channel crossings. The previous Conservative government focused heavily on deterrence, including the controversial Rwanda relocation scheme which was cancelled by Labour immediately after taking office.
Labour scrapped the Illegal Migration Act 2023’s provisions preventing unauthorised arrivals from being granted protection, whilst the new Border Security Bill 2025 continues its passage through Parliament. However, these policy changes have yet to demonstrate any reduction in crossing numbers.
In July 2025, the government announced a new deal with France to return some people arriving by small boat in exchange for accepting an equal number of asylum seekers from France. Ms Mahmood indicated this agreement would begin operating “imminently”, though no specific timeline was provided.
International Context
More than 20 countries worldwide already impose various restrictions on migrant returns and visa policies. The European Union has negotiated agreements with Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Mauritania and Egypt, providing funding and support in exchange for migration control measures.
Ms Mahmood’s threat to suspend visas represents a significant escalation in British diplomatic pressure. Such measures could affect tourism, business travel and educational exchanges with countries deemed non-cooperative on returns.
The Home Secretary specifically referenced the need for countries to accept back citizens with “no right to be in our country”, stating: “They do have to play ball, they have to come to the table. Cutting visas is one of the ways to do that.”
Rising Death Toll
The humanitarian crisis has deepened alongside enforcement challenges. In 2024, 73 people died attempting to cross the English Channel by small boat, more than in all previous years combined. The majority of crossings occur during summer and autumn months when weather conditions are more favourable.
Approximately 76 per cent of 2024 arrivals were men over 18, with 14 per cent being children under 18. Most arrivals claim asylum upon reaching the UK, with grant rates for small boat arrivals averaging 68 per cent between 2018 and 2024, higher than the overall asylum grant rate.
Economic Impact
The financial burden of the crisis continues to mount. According to recent House of Lords statements, housing asylum seekers in hotels costs taxpayers over £8 million daily, nearly £3 billion annually. This figure may have decreased as some migrants have been moved from hotels to other accommodation.
Think tank Policy Exchange estimated in 2023 that the annual cost of the small boats crisis was “in the region of £3.5 billion”. These costs include not only accommodation but also processing, legal services, and enforcement operations.
Returns of those arriving by small boat remain minimal. By the end of 2024, only around 5,000 people who arrived by small boat had been returned from the UK, representing just 3 per cent of all arrivals. Most returns were to Albania following a specific agreement negotiated under the previous government.
Looking Ahead
Ms Mahmood faces an immediate test of her tough rhetoric as autumn weather conditions typically see increased crossing attempts. The success of the French returns deal and any visa suspension threats will be closely watched as indicators of the new Home Secretary’s effectiveness.
With Reform UK capitalising on immigration concerns and Labour’s poll numbers continuing to decline, the government’s handling of Channel crossings could prove decisive for its political survival. The Five Eyes coordination announced Sunday represents an attempt to internationalise the response, though previous international efforts have shown limited success.
As Ms Mahmood settles into her role, she must balance enforcement priorities with humanitarian obligations whilst facing intense political pressure from all sides. Her warning that countries must “play by the rules” signals a more confrontational approach to international cooperation, though whether this yields results remains to be seen.
The coming weeks will prove critical as the government attempts to demonstrate progress on an issue that has defeated multiple Home Secretaries and contributed to the downfall of the previous Conservative administration. With crossing numbers at record highs and public patience wearing thin, Ms Mahmood has little room for error in her new role.
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Image Credit:
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives at the Home Office (5 Sept 2025) — photo by Jonathan Chen / UK Home Office, CC BY 4.0
