UK revives refugee resettlement scheme, prioritising Afghan women and Palestinians

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, said the UK will reopen its refugee resettlement scheme, giving priority to Afghan women and girls and Palestinians, who together will account for about a quarter of the intake. The programme, which had been closed last year, will admit hundreds of refugees initially, expanding to the low thousands as illegal migration falls, with a yearly cap. Most beneficiaries will be processed through UNHCR, while Palestinians will come via the International Refugee Assistance Project.

Mahmood framed the move as a matter of fairness and compassion, but also stressed the need for limits and community readiness. Migration experts noted the limited scale is unlikely to curb small-boat arrivals and that vulnerable groups often face labour-market challenges. Additional community, university and employer sponsorship routes are planned for 2027.