The UK is a state with strong historical and legal links to the other countries discussed in this book. It has traditionally influenced (and sometimes been influenced by) its common law counterparts and has been particularly prominent historically in developing the concept of law and the rule of law. Against this background, the UK has been struggling, particularly in the last two decades, to adopt asylum law and policies which respect the rule of law, while also conforming to its national interests. Certain aspects of UK asylum law have been quite progressive, such as the interpretation by UK courts of key aspects of the refugee definition. However, in recent years (in line with many other asylum host states), it has sought to restrict the number of asylum seekers entering the country by means of various border control and other deterrent measures. As part of this policy, the UK has introduced restrictive legal terms such as ‘safe country of origin’ and ‘safe third country’, accelerated procedures involving limited appeal avenues, and has increasingly pushed for expedited removals of ‘failed’ asylum seekers. In recent years it has also expressed particular concern over the handling of asylum in the context of national security.

Although there are similarities between the restrictive responses of the UK and that of other common law countries discussed in this book, there are a number of important differences.