Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Third Reading

Parliament voted on 12 May 2025 to pass the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at its Third Reading, the final stage in the House of Commons before a bill proceeds to the House of Lords. The result was 316 votes in favour and 95 against. Third Reading is the last opportunity for MPs to approve or reject the entire bill in its final form, meaning this vote confirmed the Commons' support for the legislation as a whole.

The bill strengthens border enforcement powers, reforms how asylum claims are processed, and introduces stricter immigration controls. In practical terms, it gives authorities expanded tools to pursue people-smuggling networks, tightens the rules governing who can claim asylum and on what grounds, and enhances enforcement mechanisms across the immigration system. The legislation affects asylum seekers arriving in the UK, immigration enforcement agencies, and the legal framework within which asylum and immigration cases are decided.

The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 312 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted supported the bill, joined by small numbers from the Traditional Unionist Voice, Democratic Unionist Party, and Ulster Unionist Party. All 86 Conservatives who voted opposed it, as did all 8 Reform UK MPs and 3 independents. The Conservatives argued the bill does not go far enough on border control, while Reform UK opposed it from a similar direction. The bill's passage at Third Reading came on the same day as several failed amendments at Report Stage, where proposals for stricter measures were defeated by large margins, illustrating the government's firm control over the bill's final shape.