The UK has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims due to the uncertainty following the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime.
Millions of Syrians fled the country after the outbreak of civil war and the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on opponents. Thousands of Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK, but the Home Office said decisions on applications would now be paused while events unfold in Damascus.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who was speaking in the Commons when the announcement was made, signalled to MPs that he had not considered calls to suspend asylum applications from Syria. The Cabinet minister referred to the “many displaced Syrians looking to return to Syria”
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said Mr Lammy referred to the “many displaced Syrians looking to return to Syria”, adding: “Will the Government be providing assistance to those Syrians in this country who do wish to their homeland? And will the Government look to follow the example of European nations, like Germany, who have suspended asylum applications?”
Mr Lammy replied in the Commons: “I have to say that that has not been put to me in the last few hours. The issue that’s been put to me is the humanitarian need in country, the humanitarian support for neighbours.” The Cabinet minister added that “significant funds” have been provided to support “people on the ground in the region”.
The rapid collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war saw a coalition of rebel groups seize Damascus on Sunday, with the former president fleeing to Russia, one of his main allies. Mr Assad’s British wife Asma is believed to be with him in Moscow.
The Prime Minister declined to say whether he would consider stripping her of her UK citizenship, adding it was “too early” to say. Mr Starmer added: “At the moment we are hours, days into a fast-moving situation and that’s why it’s very important for us to continue to talk to our allies, including here in discussions I’ve been having today, to make sure that what happens next is peaceful.
“There’s a lot of moving parts in that, a lot of risks, I absolutely accept, and challenges, but they are going to be best met if we work with our allies towards that peaceful resolution and the rejection, the utter rejection, of terrorism and violence.”