The former Welfare Reform minster has described two of his own policies as “excrescences” that were made into law because they were popular. The phrase “Performative Cruelty” has been used to describe such policies and most recently in describing the treatment of refugees. Here Paul asks if or when …
Asylum and Migration
Nationality and Borders Bill – Write to your MP ahead of the Report stage
On 7th and 8th December, the Nationality and Borders Bill will be the focus of debate in the House of Commons. At this stage in the process (the Report stage), MPs can submit amendments, speak to those amendments selected for debate and vote on the bill. This is a key opportunity for concerns …
Write to your MP in the wake of deaths crossing the Channel – November 2021
We are devastated by the tragic deaths of 27 people attempting to cross the Channel to seek sanctuary in the UK this week. This is yet another warning cry that a compassionate and just asylum system in the UK is urgently needed. Sadly, we know that this is not a one off. To address the dangerous …
Why the UK is setting itself up to struggle in response to conflict in Afghanistan
Yesterday, MPs returned from their recess to the UK parliament to debate the UK’s action in Afghanistan. There was widespread criticism from both sides of the house, and questions were raised about the UK’s course of action over the last week. The government have also confirmed that a scheme to …
A collection of resources and events for refugee week
This week is Refugee Week, a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. As churches, we want to see a world and a society which welcomes the stranger, treating asylum seekers and refugees with dignity and decency. This …
Welcoming the Stranger: Refugee Week 2021
This week is Refugee Week: a week-long festival celebrating the contribution, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Refugee weeks says its vision is for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive and resilient communities, where …
The New Plan for Immigration
The Government’s recently published New Plan for Immigration gives details about a long-promised overhaul of the asylum system. The proposals are described as aiming to increase the fairness of the asylum system and deter illegal entry into the UK. However, many of the measures risk creating more …
Responding to the New Plan For Immigration Consultation
The UK Government has opened a 6 week consultation on the 'New Plan for Immigration' proposals, which will end on 6th May 2021. They are inviting individual contributions, and collective responses from organisations. We are encouraging everyone who is able to respond to the consultation. Here …
How we forced Asylum Seekers to live in “filthy, impoverished and unsafe” barracks during a pandemic
The report into the conditions at Napier Barracks, a former army base where asylum seekers are now detained, makes appalling reading. The Government’s own inspectors set out how asylum seekers are still being forced into unsafe, unclean and unfit accommodation. It documents how that has led to …
The expansion of the voluntary returns scheme and the EUSS
In the last week, it was revealed that the UK’s voluntary returns scheme has been expanded to include EU citizens. What does this mean for the EU Settlement Scheme? The government’s voluntary returns scheme was expanded at the start of this year to include EU citizens. On this scheme, …