Written by: Lukia Nomikos, Programme Officer
The free legal advice sector is under immense pressure, with increasing demand, limited funding, and workforce challenges around staff wellbeing and retention. For agencies providing immigration and asylum advice, these challenges are compounded by the double threat of hardline government policies and the rise of the far right, creating a hostile environment for both advisers and the people they support. The two are closely intertwined: government rhetoric and policies embolden the far right, whose growing influence in turn drives the government to adopt an even harder stance. These interconnected issues were explored at our London Specialist Advice Forum in September 2025, where Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz (Head of Advocacy, Praxis), Rose Bernstein (Interim Executive Director, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants), and Sairah Javed (Solicitor, JCWI) joined us to discuss their impact on those working in and supported by advice agencies.
Changes in immigration and asylum policy
Recent months have seen a series of new and proposed policies that deepen the challenges facing refugees, migrants, and the organisations supporting them. In May 2025, the government published its Immigration White Paper, proposing measures that would make it harder for people to settle permanently in the UK. These include doubling the qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years, raising the English language requirement, and making settlement and citizenship “earned” – linked to an as-yet undefined “contribution” to society and the economy, likely measured narrowly in terms of income and National Insurance.
As explained by Josephine from Praxis, the government justifies these reforms as a way to reduce net migration – a goal rooted in hostility and scapegoating rather than any genuine attempt to address the country’s challenges – but in practice, they will do little beyond making life harder for those already in the UK. She noted that the proposed changes will increase the risk of financial hardship, debt, housing insecurity, and exploitation.
Josephine also pointed out that an “earned” model risks discriminating against women, people of colour, carers, and Disabled people, who are more likely to work part-time or in low-paid jobs. Those in higher-paid work may continue to qualify under the five-year route, while low-income workers will be pushed onto the ten-year route. The irony, as she emphasised, is that those earning little to nothing are most likely to need access to the social security system and least able to afford the fees for the ten-year route, which amount to around £70,000 for a family of four.
Josephine also warned that increasing the number of people on ten-year routes – with some estimates suggesting up to 1.7 million could be pushed onto this route – would not only heighten the risk of the system collapsing but also increase the likelihood of individuals losing legal status due to high fees and complex requirements. She highlighted research showing that two-thirds of those on this route have at some point been unable to renew visas because of cost, raising the risk of creating a new subclass of individuals without legal status and repeating the injustices seen in the Windrush scandal.
She further noted that the White Paper’s lack of clarity is a major concern. While questions remain about how “contribution” will be defined, many other key details are also unspecified, including which visa holders will be affected and whether the rules will apply retrospectively. This uncertainty is already causing confusion and anxiety among migrants and driving up demand for legal advice.
In addition to the White Paper, two asylum policy changes came into force in August and September. The UK–France “one-in-one-out” policy allows asylum claims made by people arriving on small boats to be treated as “inadmissible”, meaning these individuals will be returned to France to have their claim decided there. Rose from The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) described this as “a continuation of cruel asylum policies and another attempt to appease the racist far right.”
Shortly after, the government paused new applications under the refugee family reunion route, forcing refugees to apply under existing, stricter Immigration Rules to bring their partner or child to the UK. Sairah from JCWI spoke about the impact of this sudden closure, explaining that it had caused a surge in emergency applications, leaving advice agencies overstretched and families separated.
As discussed at the Forum, together these policies have a devastating effect: people are being deported and separated from loved ones, and could face prolonged insecurity, poverty, and debt under the proposed ten-year route. Advice agencies are under immense strain, grappling with widespread confusion and demand for services, leaving staff increasingly overwhelmed and unable to meet the needs of those they support.
The far-right threat
Alongside these policy changes, the rise of the far right has created an increasingly hostile environment for refugees, migrants, and those who support them, severely impacting their safety and wellbeing.
Sairah described how attacks on asylum accommodation have left many fearing for their lives. Some asylum seekers now avoid allocated accommodation due to safety concerns, even though the system does not allow them to stay elsewhere. She also shared an example of a client hoping to reunite with her Muslim teenage son in Gambia, fearing she may be bringing him into a society that will not accept him.
Rose highlighted that the situation has also become increasingly unsafe for advice agencies, with many having been forced to implement extensive security measures in response to escalating racial abuse, intimidation, and threats of violence against staff and clients. These precautions now include panic alarms, removing staff names from websites, enhanced email filters, and remote working arrangements when offices have had to close due to safety concerns. Regular risk assessments have become essential, and wellbeing and reflective practice spaces – once reserved mainly for legal advisers – have been extended to campaigns staff, who are increasingly exposed to online abuse and threats.
Strategy, solidarity and hope
Despite these challenges, the Forum speakers highlighted practical ways forward. Josephine emphasised building alliances beyond the migration sector, engaging groups newly affected by the proposed changes to settlement who may have greater influence, including trade unions, faith groups, and the Hong Kong community. Joint lobbying, informed by evidence from those directly impacted, and collaboration with communications experts to reshape public narratives were also noted as key tools for change.
Campaigning and public advocacy remain crucial. Rose described their ongoing efforts targeting Air France over its complicity in removals under the UK-France deal, which have achieved strong engagement and media coverage. She also encouraged drawing on resources from groups such as Migration Exchange, Hope Not Hate, and Right to Remain to counter the far-right threat.
The power of solidarity and visibility were also emphasised. Silence, Rose warned, only emboldens far-right actors. Shared statements of support across the sector have already made a difference, but visible backing from funders and convening bodies such as LLST is also essential – through public messages of solidarity and reassurance that funding will not be withdrawn under political pressure.
The importance of celebrating small victories was also highlighted – from successful asylum appeals to reuniting families before new rules take effect. These wins are transformative for clients and affirming for staff. Taking pride and joy in the work, and sharing successes across organisations, helps sustain motivation and reinforces the sector’s sense of purpose.
As Franck Kiangala (Director & Solicitor, North Kensington Law Centre) who chaired the September meeting, reflected, this is what the London Specialist Advice Forum exists for: to share knowledge, support one another, and keep building a sector that is collaborative and resilient. Despite a hostile political climate, the courage and dedication of advice agencies show that hope and meaningful change remain possible when we act collectively.
For those who want to explore the September 2025 Forum discussions in more detail, the full meeting notes and recording are available here, under ‘Forum resources’.
If you’d like to learn more about the London Specialist Advice Forum and take part in future discussions on developments and challenges in the free legal advice sector, you can sign up to become a member here.