From wave machines in the English Channel to pushing dinghies back with jet-skis, in the past year we’ve heard that Home Secretary Priti Patel has considered a series of extreme, sometimes absurd, measures to deter people from seeking sanctuary in the UK. With each headline more far-fetched than the last, it would be easy to write these ideas off as unrealistic. But the dangers of this government’s new asylum agenda are very real.

Over the coming months, our sector must be alert to the broad and deep legislative changes this government is set to make to our asylum system. These changes are likely to harm vulnerable groups the most, including women, children, and LGBTQ+ people, and the implications for charities working in housing, welfare and food will be huge.