Incoming PM Burnham backs asylum bill after 264-90 vote

Andy Burnham, the incoming prime minister, has backed a major overhaul of the United Kingdom's asylum system, supporting a contentious bill that passed its second reading in Parliament on July 13, 2026. The vote, which saw the Immigration and Asylum Bill approved by a margin of 264 to 90, signals Burnham's alignment with outgoing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans just days before he is set to assume office on July 20.

The legislation aims to reduce small boat crossings across the English Channel by establishing more "safe and legal routes" for refugees. Its provisions include tightening the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers the right to private and family life, a move the Home Office says will reduce successful asylum appeals. The bill also seeks to speed up the deportation of individuals who enter the country illegally or commit crimes, and includes measures requiring some migrants to repay costs for taxpayer-funded accommodation.

Burnham's support, confirmed by his spokesperson, framed the reforms as an effort to create a system that is "both compassionate and credible," restoring public confidence while ensuring fairness...