Immigration · 29 November 2025
UK ends free taxi rides for asylum seekers
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has banned asylum seekers from using taxis for most medical appointments starting February, following a BBC investigation revealing widespread abuse including 250-mile journeys to see GPs. Exceptions will only apply for exceptional circumstances like physical disability, pregnancy or serious illness, requiring Home Office approval. The decision aims to save taxpayer money after reports of inflated mileage and unnecessary long-distance trips, with public transport alternatives being introduced instead.
Reported by ITV · How we write briefs