Image source, House of Commons

Cooper now suggests there will be potential changes to the way that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to respect for private and family life - is interpreted.

She says interpretations of international law need to keep up with the realities of the current world.

She suggests that the rules around family reunion are being used differently than what she says were there intended use.

Smuggler gangs are able to use the promise of family reunion to promote dangerous routes to the UK, she warns.

The government is going to set out more radical reforms to "modernise" what she calls the "broken asylum system" and boost security, Cooper says.

At the heart of these will be a "complete overhaul" of the appeals system for asylum claims, which she calls "the biggest obstacle" to change.

Cooper adds that the government has already funded thousands of additional court sitting days, but that it "needs to go further" so will introduce a new independent body to look at appeals.

Image source, House of Commons

Cooper goes on to give an update on what she says are further steps the government is now taking.

In August, a new treaty was signed with France that would allow the UK for the first time to directly return people who arrive on small boats, she says.

The first detentions took place the next day, and the government expects the first returns to begin later this month, she says, adding applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route.

This is a pilot scheme, but she says the more they can "prove the concept" the "better we will be able to develop and grow it".

She also goes on to describe further action taken to "strengthen enforcement" against smuggling gangs.

Cooper says the asylum system has to be "controlled and managed". It must be based on "fair and properly enforced rules", not chaos and exploitation driven by gangs.

Substantial reforms are needed now, she says. Cooper goes on to hail the government's record, which she says has been "laying the foundations" of asylum reform.

We've removed 35,000 people with no right to be here, increased raids and cut the hotel bill by almost £1bn over the last year, she says.

Image source, House of Commons

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper begins her statement to MPs.

She tells them she will deliver an update on the government's work with France to strengthen border security, as well as further updates on the asylum system.

• How does the deal with France work? Read our explainer for the detail

When Labour came to government, it found an asylum system "in chaos", she says.

This included a "soaring" asylum backlog, and hundreds of hotels opened across the country as criminal gangs embedded operations along the French coast.

Cooper says that the Conservatives then cut the processing of asylum cases before leaving office, which in turn led the public to lose confidence in the system.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is due to deliver a statement to MPs in the House of Commons shortly.

We're expecting her to outline new criteria on coming to the UK for family members of those granted asylum, including tougher English language standards and rules on access to sufficient funds.

We'll be covering the key lines here. Follow along by tapping watch live above.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live earlier, the prime minister said he wanted to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers as soon as possible.

But is he on track to fulfil the migration pledges he made when he came to power last year?

• 'End asylum hotels' by 2029: More asylum seekers were staying in hotels in June 2025 than one year earlier – a few days before the general election. But shorter-term, the number has fallen by 286 since March 2025

• 'Clear the asylum backlog': Since last June, there has been a 55% increase in decisions on asylum cases, and the overall backlog of asylum cases has fallen

• 'Increase returns' of people with no legal right to be in the UK: Between July 2024 (when Labour came to power) and July 2025, there were 35,052 returns recoded by the Home Office - up 13% compared with the same period 12 months before
• 'Smash the gangs' that organise small boat crossings: It is unclear how the government plans to measure its progress on this goal, but told us it was collecting data that "may be published in the future"

You can read the full analysis by the BBC Verify team in this explainer.

On politics and today's No 10 changes:

• Starmer says he will "definitely" lead Labour into the next election and repeats that he sees his government as offering a "decade of national renewal"

• Labour's first year in power was about "fixing the foundations" - now the government is in "phase two"
• He says "delivery" is key focus of government, hence changes to his Downing Street team
• He throws his support behind Angela Rayner, who has been criticised by opposition parties in recent days over tax arrangements

On asylum seekers:

• Starmer says he wants asylum hotels "emptied" in an "orderly" way, and accuses Nigel Farage of feeding on grievance and offering "unworkable, fanciful ideas"
• He says he would like to bring forward the 2029 target for ending asylum hotels, though does not offer a specific new date

On childcare:

• Starmer says an expansion of childcare which comes into force today, giving eligible parents 30 free hours of support a week for young children, is "hugely important"

Starmer tries to thread the needle on some hot topicspublished at 14:46 BST 1 September

14:46 BST 1 September

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

There’s loads of interest from Keir Starmer in that interview with Matt Chorley.

First up, flags. The prime minister has disclosed that he has a St George’s Cross in his Downing Street flat and that he is a “supporter of flags”. But he warns that they could be "devalued and belittled” if used for divisive means. He’ll hope that approach just about threads the needle on a hot topic - the risk is that he achieves the inverse and annoys both sides.

On the substance of the asylum issue, while it was fairly loosely-worded it is significant that the prime minister seems to suggest he might want to bring forward the deadline for closing asylum hotels - currently set for the end of the parliament in 2029.

And then on the rejig the prime minister has carried out today to his team today, Starmer tries to mark this as a hinge moment. He says it marks the start of “phase two” of his government - one which will be focused on “delivery, delivery, delivery".

If the public does not see clear benefits from that delivery before long, expect the political temperature to go up.

Starmer is asked about recent reports that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner saved £40,000 in stamp duty when buying a flat in Hove, East Sussex, after telling tax authorities it was her main home.

Rayner comes from a "very humble background", Starmer says, adding that he is proud to have her as his deputy.

Asked whether others in the party are briefing against her, Starmer says Rayner has had people "briefing against her and talking her down" repeatedly. "It's a big mistake," he says.

"What a great story of British success," he adds.

A spokesperson for Rayner previously said she had paid "the relevant duty" owed "entirely properly".

The prime minister is asked about the expanded childcare provision which comes into force today, giving eligible parents 30 free hours of support a week for young children.

But it is put to him that the roll-out could be hampered by staff shortages in the sector.

The prime minister says the policy is "hugely important" as children are more likely to perform well in school if they have been to childcare when they are young.

He recognises recruitment challenges for the sector but says that nine out of 10 parents have secured their preferred place.

Asked about a recent trend for displaying flags, Starmer points to the one installed in the cabinet room, adding: "I'm a supporter of flags."

The prime minister says he has a St George's Cross in his No 10 flat and describes flags as a "great symbol of our nation".

But he says that using symbols divisively can devalue them, adding: "I don't want to see that... I'm proud of our flag."

Starmer is asked how he would feel if a hotel housing asylum seekers was at the end of his street.

"I completely get it," Starmer says, adding: "Local people by and large do not want these hotels in their towns, in their place, and nor do I. I'm completely at one with them on that."

Starmer says he understands why people want the hotels closed and he wants that too "as quickly as possible".

Asked to put a date on it, Starmer reiterates his commitment to do so by the end of this Parliament.

When it's put to him that is four years away, he says he would like to bring that date forward, but does not commit to another date.

On small boat crossings, Starmer is asked how he will win back the trust of voters who think Nigel Farage and Reform UK are leading on this?

Starmer says this is a "really serious issue" that he is "determined" to deal with.

"When it comes to the asylum hotels, I want them emptied," he tells BBC Radio 5 Live.

The only way to empty them is an "orderly, systematic" working through of cases, as quickly as possible - and then returning people who should not be here, he says.

"I want to see every single asylum hotel closed," Starmer says.

He says Farage and Reform UK "feed on grievance". "They don't want the problem solved," he adds, accusing the party of putting forward "unworkable, fanciful ideas".

Asked what message it sends out that he is reshuffling his top team again, Starmer repeats that he views his government as moving into a new phase.

He continues: "Delivery is the absolute key word and that's why I'm really pleased with the changes today."

Starmer says Darren Jones - who has been appointed to the new role of chief secretary to the prime minister today - will work alongside him to focus on pushing policies through.

A year on from his victory speech in the garden of Downing Street, Starmer says he understands if some people are frustrated.

He says people want change but that he levelled with the country that it would take time to fix public services.

The first year in power, Starmer says, has been spent "fixing the foundations" and "doing the hard yards".

Now, he says, the government is in "phase two", where the focus is on "delivery, delivery, delivery".

Starmer says today's changes to his No 10 team make the centre of government "more powerful" and will allow him to drive through changes.

Matt Chorley starts by asking Starmer what it was like walking into the cabinet room for the first time as prime minister, where this afternoon's interview is taking place.

Starmer reflects on how he thought of all the "huge" decisions that have been taken there, including during two World Wars.

He says he felt a "sense of history" and "privilege" when he walked into the room.

Now he is being pressed on his government's record during its first year.

Keir Starmer's interview on Matt Chorley's 5 Live radio show from the Downing Street cabinet room will begin in a few minutes.

We'll bring you all the key lines here as soon as the prime minister starts speaking, and you can also listen along to our audio-only feed of the programme at the top of the page.

Image source, PA Media

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has weighed in on the changes to Downing Street staffing this morning, saying: “Desperate people do desperate things."

Speaking to the media a little earlier, he was asked about a range of topics, including the government's proposed tightening of rules on asylum seekers bringing their families to the UK.

He says his party will “dig into what has gone on” there and “come to a view” on what would be a fair number.

An attempt to create clearer structures in No 10published at 13:37 BST 1 September

13:37 BST 1 September

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Another way to interpret these latest moves is that they are also partly about establishing more conventional - and clearer - structures.

This morning there were two directors of communications, and four people who could claim in some sense to be head of policy. Now there is one of each.

Reaching for the sort of football analogy the prime minister might enjoy, one government insider said to me: "No 10 has been like Sven [Goran-Eriksson's] England team. Lots of midfield talent who couldn't play together."