What's happened
The UK government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal working and account sharing among delivery drivers, linking data sharing with firms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat. The move aims to curb migrant exploitation and organized crime, amid record migrant crossings in 2025. New laws and increased enforcement are part of this strategy.
What's behind the headline?
The UK’s intensified crackdown on illegal working reflects a broader political push to control migration and organized crime. The data sharing agreements with delivery platforms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat are designed to identify and suspend accounts linked to asylum seekers or illegal workers. This approach leverages real-time identity checks and location data to close loopholes exploited by gangs selling places on small boats. However, these measures also risk stigmatizing vulnerable migrants and may not fully address the root causes of irregular migration. The legislative expansion of right-to-work checks into the gig economy signals a move towards stricter enforcement, but it raises questions about the impact on legitimate workers and the gig sector’s flexibility. The government’s focus on deportations and border controls, including potential deportation agreements with Iraq, underscores a hardline stance that prioritizes border security over humanitarian considerations. The recent record migrant arrivals and the mass expulsions of Afghan refugees highlight the ongoing tension between border control and international obligations. Overall, these policies will likely lead to increased enforcement actions and deportations, but their effectiveness in reducing illegal working and migration remains uncertain. The approach may also deepen divisions over immigration policy and impact the UK’s international reputation.
What the papers say
The Mirror reports that the UK government is taking 'strong and decisive action' by enhancing data sharing with delivery firms and increasing enforcement, including over 7,000 arrests since coming into power. The Independent details the new agreement with Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, emphasizing efforts to crack down on account sharing and illegal work, especially among asylum seekers. Both sources highlight the government’s broader Plan for Change, which includes a 50% increase in raids and the targeting of migrant smuggling networks. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera provides context on Iran’s mass expulsions of Afghan migrants, illustrating the global dimension of migration issues and the pressures faced by host countries. The New Arab discusses the UK’s potential new deportation pact with Iraq, aiming to accelerate the removal of failed asylum seekers, amidst record crossings and ongoing political debates about migration management. The contrasting perspectives underscore the UK’s focus on enforcement and border security, while international reports highlight the humanitarian and geopolitical complexities involved.
How we got here
The UK has been facing rising migrant crossings via the English Channel, with over 23,500 arrivals in 2025. The government has linked illegal working to organized crime and exploitation, prompting new policies including data sharing agreements with delivery companies and legislative changes to tighten border controls. The issue is compounded by the presence of asylum seekers, many of whom are barred from work during processing, but some are suspected of working illegally for delivery firms.
Go deeper
Common question
-
UK Immigration and Border Checks: What’s Changing in 2025?
In 2025, the UK has introduced new measures to tighten immigration controls and improve border security. These changes aim to crack down on illegal working, manage record migrant crossings, and streamline data sharing with delivery companies and other agencies. If you're curious about how these updates might affect migrants, delivery workers, or border enforcement, read on for answers to the most common questions about these new policies.
-
UK Immigration Crackdown: Why Now and What’s Changing?
The UK government is stepping up efforts to tackle illegal working and account sharing among delivery drivers, amid rising migrant crossings and border concerns. This new crackdown raises questions about how these changes will impact migrants, businesses, and enforcement strategies. Below, we explore the key updates, why they’re happening now, and what they mean for everyone involved.
More on these topics
-
Yvette Cooper (born 20 March 1969) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since September 2025, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2024 to 2025. A member of the Labour Party, Cooper has been Member of Parliament (MP)...
-
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
-
Christopher Ian Brian Mynott Philp is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected in May 2015 as the Member of Parliament for Croydon South. In August 2019 he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
Just Eat is a British online food order and delivery service. It acts as an intermediary between independent takeaway food outlets and customers.
-
Deliveroo is an online food delivery company based in London, England. It operates in two hundred locations across the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Pu
-
Uber Eats is an American online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in 2014 and based in San Francisco, California.
-
The Home Office is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for immigration, security and law and order.
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
-
Angela Eagle is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Wallasey since the 1992 general election.