The hardline Swedish minister who slashed the number of migrants coming to his country has revealed how he thinks Britain could do the same – by toughening up.

Johan Forssell explained how numbers applying to live in the Scandinavian country had fallen to a 40 year low with just 4,200 claims expected in 2026 – compared to 95,536 in Britain in a comparable period to last March.

Since Mr Forssell’s centre-Right Moderate Party took power in 2022, deportations have increased by 60 per cent and asylum claims have dropped by 75 per cent – numbers that Labour’s Andy Burnham can only dream of matching.

Mr Forssell told the Daily Mail how ten years ago during the Syrian refugee crisis more than 163,000 people had claimed asylum in Sweden but since then numbers have fallen dramatically.

He said: ‘There is nothing extreme about what we are doing – we inherited a situation which had caused enormous integration problems in Sweden, there were gangs and shootings every day.

‘That is what sparked us on and we have seen some important results but there are still many challenges to overcome, most people who want to come here are honest and want to work but it is a fact that some don’t want to do that.

‘For many years, Sweden had a very different migration policy compared to other countries and what happened was that led to situations of very severe problems, for example kids growing up where the parents didn’t speak Swedish.

‘The parents didn’t go to work, and it created a sense that politicians were not in control of migration and that is what we are trying to change here now over the last few years and so far, so good.’

The hardline Swedish minister who slashed the number of migrants coming to his country has revealed how he thinks Britain could do the same, as a record number of migrants travelled to Britain in one boat this week 

Some 15,242 small-boat migrants have arrived this year. And 2,773 – not including Monday’s mega-dinghy – have arrived since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister on July 20.

Drives include cutting migrant benefits, deporting increasing numbers of criminals and moving asylum seekers into centres and not private housing, while they have their claims processed, many in record times compared to the UK.

Mr Forssell added: ‘We have tightened conditions for asylum seekers, a few years ago when migrants came, they would be granted permanent resident permits but now they only get temporary ones.

‘This makes sure that if you want to stay here then you need to become a Swedish citizen and if you don’t want to then you go back home, and if the war or conflict is over in your country you go home if you don’t want to be Swedish.

‘Reception centres have now been set up to accommodate asylum seekers while they wait, because we just didn’t know where people were and so now we have a better idea of who is where in the country.

‘If you come to Sweden now you live in a reception centre and if you want to stay you have to learn Swedish, learn about our society and be willing to integrate and also work which is very important. 

‘Crucially, also what we have said is that if your claim is refused then you must leave, yes there are appeals but these are dealt with as speedily as possible and if they fail then they have to go back home.

‘For many years if asylum was refused there were numerous possibilities to remain in Sweden illegally but now, we are cracking down on that but let me assure you we are doing everything by the book here, there is nothing extreme going on.’

Johan Forssell (left) explained how numbers applying to live in the Scandinavian country had fallen to a 40 year low with just 4,200 claims expected in 2026 – compared to 95,536 in Britain in a comparable period to last March

He added: ‘What we have done is shorten the waiting times so that the decisions are quick and if you are not granted asylum then while any appeal is ongoing you will be moved to a centre to ready yourself for your trip home.’

Mr Forssell also explained how Sweden scrapped a law which allowed migrants who had remained in the country illegally for four years to reapply for asylum and those denied were being sent home.

He told the Daily Mail he had spoken with Home Office officials about methods used to cut numbers and added: ‘I know migration is still a big topic in Britain, and we have had talks in the past.

‘I know the figures vary and I don’t want to comment on domestic policy in another country, but I think Sweden is a good example of how to deal with the phenomena of illegal immigration and large numbers of asylum seekers.

‘There is no silver bullet as such, but what we have done is examine all aspects of the law and tightened them up as fairly as possible and nothing is against the law, it is all by the book.

‘It is possible to get in control of migration, and you can do this in a way that is in line with all international law and there is nothing extreme about it and that’s the lesson you can learn from Sweden.

‘Yes, it’s hard work but you must look at the legislation and see how it can be tightened, which we have done, and it has proved very successful.’

When asked what Britain could do, Mr Forssell said: ‘As I said, I don’t want to tell another country what to do but one thing is to look at the pull factors of what makes someone want to move to a particular country.

‘It’s not the weather I can tell you, it is generous legislation on family reunifications and benefits offered, yes people can come here but do they have housing and do they have income not to rely on welfare?

‘We want to improve social cohesion in Sweden, we don’t want migrants growing up in a household where they don’t speak Swedish and where parents don’t work, there needs to be an income. 

‘Before there were no requirements to work or learn Swedish, more or less anything and that created a situation where people chose not to learn Swedish or work and that is not our view on integration.’

Mr Forssell added: ‘I think one of the key pull factors in Sweden is that at first an asylum seeker was given permanent leave to remain when you arrived but now it is only temporary. Benefits and the need not to work was also a pull but now no more.’

Claimants now have their applications reviewed every three years and are deported if they have failed to meet criteria.

While anyone who is on temporary leave to remain and who commits a crime carries a stricter sentence than a fine will also be kicked out. 

He said: ‘It’s not complicated, if you choose to come to Sweden but then commit a crime then you are not contributing to society and if you are convicted of a crime then you will be deported.’

Mr Forssell added: ‘Sweden has done remarkably well over the last few years and it sends a very clear message to all, that things can be changed, immigration policy can be changed, you can if you work intensively with the legislation as we have done, you can take control of migration.

‘That is I think extremely important for integration but also for public trust in the migration system, you need to be very careful with that, and you need to preserve public trust, and that is what we have done and it is something I am very proud of.’