UK mulls visa cuts for nations refusing to help with small boat returns

LONDON

The UK's new home secretary on Monday said that Britain could impose a visa cut on countries that do not help with small boat returns.

Speaking to Sky News, Shabana Mahmood said securing the borders is her "top priority" in her new role.

She said Britain is in discussions with "Five Eyes" allies, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, on "co-ordinated action" to tackle irregular migration.

Nearly 1,100 migrants crossed the English Channel to reach Britain in 17 boats on Saturday, bringing the total in 2025 so far to 30,100, Home Office figures show.

Praising the "very strong" migration policy foundation left by her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, Mahmood said she wanted to go "further and faster" and that she would do "whatever it takes" to secure the borders.

"I will be looking to go further and faster because I’m very clear I have one top priority in this job and that is to secure the borders. I will do whatever it takes," she added.

She went on to say that countries that refuse to take back refused asylum seekers from the UK could face a cut in the number of visas issued to their citizens.

"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. For us, that means including possibly the cutting of visas in the future," the home secretary added.