Is Britain too soft on immigration? Migration is one of the major issues driving voters towards Reform UK. Labour hopes to lure them back — but critics warn their plans may backfire.
New asylum rules among ‘strictest in Europe’
Rush: French politicians claim that the UK's illegal economy is encouraging more people to travel to Calais beaches in the hope of reaching the UK. Glossary
Refugees - Anyone fleeing conflict or persecution is defined as a refugee by the UN as a refugee, regardless of where they are from.
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
Populist - The term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment".
Reform UK - Officially Reform UK, a political party set up in 2018 as the Brexit Party. Its most prominent figure is Nigel Farage.
Home secretary - In Britain, they are responsible for national security, immigration and policing.
MPs - Members of Parliament. MPs are elected to represent people in 650 different geographical areas.
Asylum - When a state agrees to shelter somebody who is fleeing dangerous circumstances. The right to asylum is protected in international law by the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Irregular migration - The movement of people to a country outside the legal norms — for example, by overstaying a visa or entering without permission.
Principled - Acting according to strong, consistent moral or ethical standards; doing the right thing even when it’s difficult.