{"id":249,"date":"2025-07-30T13:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T12:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/?p=249"},"modified":"2025-07-31T20:29:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T19:29:57","slug":"ongoing-reaction-to-the-governments-immigration-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/ongoing-reaction-to-the-governments-immigration-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Ongoing reaction to the government\u2019s immigration plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are the government\u2019s immigration plans, announced in May, \u201cuntethered from reality\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2025\/may\/13\/labour-immigration-government-policy-ugly-dangerous-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Jonathan Portes<\/a>, in <em>The Guardian<\/em>)? Or is it that \u201cKeir Starmer loves a crackdown\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/unherd.com\/newsroom\/do-labour-mps-really-support-starmers-immigration-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Angus Reilly<\/a> in <em>UnHerd<\/em>)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/speeches\/pm-remarks-at-immigration-white-paper-press-conference-12-may-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">prime minister\u2019s speech<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper\/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-accessible\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">white paper<\/a> set out the plans. Here we look at key areas of contention from a housing and integration perspective, with commentary on each.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);background-color:#e7e7dd;border-top:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-right:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-bottom:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-left:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-top-left-radius:0.5rem;border-top-right-radius:0.5rem;border-bottom-right-radius:0.5rem;border-bottom-left-radius:0.5rem;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{color:#1b67a1;font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list .kb-table-of-contents__entry:hover{color:#111111;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-list li{margin-bottom:8px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-list li .kb-table-of-contents-list-sub{margin-top:8px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before{background-color:#e7e7dd;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-wrap{border-top:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-right:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-bottom:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-left:1px solid #d0d0d0;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id249_0f4c03-ce .kb-table-of-content-wrap{border-top:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-right:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-bottom:1px solid #d0d0d0;border-left:1px solid #d0d0d0;}}<\/style>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where will the government\u2019s plan take us?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jonathan Portes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2025\/may\/13\/labour-immigration-government-policy-ugly-dangerous-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">believes<\/a> that the UK \u2013 in contrast to many other European countries \u2013 is good at integrating migrants. But the government\u2019s rhetoric and policy \u201cwill take us backward to a much uglier, and more dangerous, place.\u201d In contrast, Robert Shrimsley in the <em>Financial Times <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/3daf7366-fe7f-4b6b-9e23-652499082b34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">says<\/a> that \u201cExcessive immigration is a real and corrosive issue.\u201d At least Keir Starmer is \u201cconsistent in his ability to satisfy no one,\u201d he adds. The new immigration plan is not enough for the hardliners, but too much for the liberals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the <em>Daily Telegraph, <\/em>Allister Heath goes further, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2025\/05\/14\/i-was-wrong-only-net-zero-immigration-can-save-britain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">arguing<\/a> for what he calls \u201cnet zero\u201d immigration: \u201cPrevious dismissals and broken promises played midwife to Brexit and are capable of powering Reform \u2014 or a Conservative facsimile \u2014 into office unless Labour draws the sting from the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stephen Bush, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/81afd86a-498c-4db7-89e1-ff9499f25f58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">in the <em>FT<\/em><\/a>, says that Britain\u2019s level of immigration is typical and to change it implies a different approach to the economy and the makeup of the UK workforce. In the <em>New Statesman, <\/em>George Eaton agrees; he <a href=\"https:\/\/morningcall.substack.com\/p\/morning-call-starmers-shock-therapy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">suggests<\/a> that via Labour\u2019s immigration controls we are in for \u201ca great economic experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"strangers\"><\/a>\u201cAn island of strangers\u201d \u2013 joint statement issued<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Particularly controversial was the prime minister\u2019s referring to Britain as \u201can island of strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over 350 organisations, including CIH, signed a <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/esmeefairbairn.bsky.social\/post\/3lq7vktwe2k2a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">statement<\/a> saying: \u201cWe are an Island of Solidarity, not Strangers.\u201d The statement was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/refugee-migrant-groups-join-hundreds-35284844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">covered<\/a> in <em>The Mirror<\/em> and there are posts on <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/asylummatters.bsky.social\/post\/3lq5f66owvr2h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Bluesky<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo?fbid=679881471345633&amp;set=a.153258204007965\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Facebook<\/a>. <em>Nation Cymru<\/em> covered the campaign and said that the Welsh Refugee Council and many Welsh groups <a href=\"https:\/\/nation.cymru\/news\/welsh-refugee-groups-back-campaign-to-oppose-anti-migrant-politics-at-westminster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">endorse the statement<\/a>. Many Scottish organisations also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/news\/25214049.anti-migrant-politics-uk-leaves-new-scots-hopeless-afraid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">added their names<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Housing-Rights-Summer-2025-Mirror.png\" alt=\"Housing rights summer 2025 mirror\" class=\"wp-image-302\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pierre Makhlouf, legal director at Bail for Immigration Detainees <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biduk.org\/articles\/doubling-down-on-division-bid-statement-on-immigration-white-paper-announcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">said<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cTo claim the UK risks becoming \u2018an island of strangers\u2019 while deliberately fuelling division and setting communities against each other is not just hypocritical\u2014it\u2019s reckless and dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the <em>Observer, <\/em>Kenan Malik <a href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/news\/opinion-and-ideas\/article\/were-becoming-strangers-but-not-because-of-immigration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">argued<\/a> that \u201cpoliticians ignore deeper developments and blame everything on immigration.\u201d In <em>Byline Times, <\/em>Daniel Sohege <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2025\/05\/16\/keir-starmers-government-is-now-even-more-anti-migrant-than-its-conservative-predecessors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">argued<\/a> that \u201cKeir Starmer\u2019s government is now even more anti-migrant than its Conservative predecessors.\u201d Also in <em>Byline Times,<\/em> Zoe Gardner explained \u201cWhy Keir Starmer is wrong about immigration\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bylinesupplement.com\/p\/why-keir-starmer-is-wrong-about-immigration#Echobox=1748111709\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">dispelled<\/a> some myths that government rhetoric sustains<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shruti Bhargava in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housingdiversitynetwork.co.uk\/hdn-think-piece-words-matter-the-immigration-white-paper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">blog<\/a> for the Housing Diversity Network asks: \u201cIs it possible to talk about controlling immigration without attacking and scapegoating migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum from war, famine or persecution? I think it is. But it seems to be a sad fact that our prime minister, Keir Starmer, doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prime minister later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2025\/jun\/27\/keir-starmer-says-he-deeply-regrets-island-of-strangers-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">said<\/a> he should not have used the phrase about an island of strangers. \u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t right,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll give you the honest truth: I deeply regret using it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pledges to bring down net migration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA 100,000 drop in immigration per year by 2029\u201d is forecast to result from government plans, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c9wgrv7pwrzo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">reported<\/a> the <em>BBC<\/em>. But Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/10\/another-drop-in-uk-net-migration-in-2026-may-cause-labour-shortages-says-no-10-adviser\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">warned<\/a> that if net migration falls to around 200,000 annually, as he expects, there will be severe labour shortages, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunder Katwala of British Future, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/0e1f2356-3492-4662-9329-2e315322c6fe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">writing<\/a> in the <em>Financial Times, <\/em>says that Labour is \u201ctrapped in this numbers game.\u201d He argues that they should show they are managing numbers downwards but in a balanced way, choosing immigration where workers are needed to meet Labour\u2019s missions on growth and on the NHS, but with an eye on adequate housing supply and cost-benefit analysis by the Treasury. \u201cA published immigration plan, presented to parliament, would make the choices and trade-offs explicit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heather Rolfe <a href=\"https:\/\/ukandeu.ac.uk\/the_immigration_white-paper_misjudges_the_publics_priorities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">analyses<\/a> public opinion on the white paper for <em>UK in a Changing Europe<\/em>. She argues that while much of the public is in favour of reducing migration, the white paper is out of line with public thinking because it focuses on labour migration, about which there is much less concern. The social care visa, which the government plans to cut, has strong support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As CIH\u2019s John Perry points out in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housingtoday.co.uk\/comment\/debunking-the-myths-about-migrants-and-housing\/5136552.article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">article<\/a> on myths about migration in <em>Housing Today<\/em>, the government\u2019s white paper makes no fewer than five references to the \u201cpressure\u201d migration puts on the housing system. This, he argues, is a gross oversimplification of a complex issue. The <em>Big Issue <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigissue.com\/news\/housing\/robert-jenrick-migration-rent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">notes that<\/a> \u201cTory MP Robert Jenrick says mass migration to blame for rising rents. Here&#8217;s what he&#8217;s not telling you.\u201d A major factor is past governments\u2019 failure to build new homes, especially social housing, it argues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Latest figures <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/populationandmigration\/internationalmigration\/bulletins\/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional\/yearendingdecember2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">show<\/a> that net migration to the UK almost halved in 2024, falling to 431,000. The ONS has a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.ons.gov.uk\/2025\/05\/22\/taking-a-look-at-what-is-driving-the-fall-in-net-migration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">blog<\/a> discussing the reasons for the fall. The <em>Migration Observatory<\/em> has a <a href=\"https:\/\/migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk\/resources\/briefings\/long-term-international-migration-flows-to-and-from-the-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">new briefing<\/a> on the net migration statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Refugee integration and the citizenship issue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The white paper\u2019s section on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper\/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-accessible#chapter-6-fostering-integration-and-cohesion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Fostering Integration and Cohesion<\/a> promises a new community cohesion strategy to include all migrants. It emphasises the importance of migrants learning English, but the sections on \u201cearned\u201d settlement and citizenship will make it a longer and more difficult process; the white paper is clear that it wants to reduce the numbers who are granted such status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In February, the government&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gmiau.org\/update-citizenship-guidance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">made changes<\/a>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/good-character-nationality-policy-guidance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">\u201cGood Character\u201d guidance<\/a>&nbsp;it uses when considering citizenship applications. People who entered the UK \u201cillegally\u201d and\/ or arrived through \u201cdangerous routes\u201d will normally be refused British citizenship, no matter how long they have been in the UK. The Refugee Council estimates that at least 71,000 refugees who have already been granted status could be affected, a number which is growing as new asylum claims are approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colin Yeo in <em>We Wanted Workers<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/wewantedworkers.substack.com\/p\/settlement-and-citizenship-in-labours\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">points out<\/a> that while the white paper welcomes integration it makes it much harder by making people wait longer and pay more. It will also make it harder for people to get a rented home and a job, because of their uncertain status. What measure will be adopted of \u201ccontributions to the UK economy and society?\u201d, Yeo asks \u2013 the proposed criterion for being allowed to apply more quickly. For example, if volunteering will help accelerate settlement, must it be for a charity or can it also be for a non-charity? What proof will be accepted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jonathan Thomas of the Social Market Foundation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smf.co.uk\/commentary_podcasts\/settle-down-why-the-big-new-issue-in-uk-immigration-policy-goes-all-the-way-to-the-top-of-government-and-where-it-might-go-from-here\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">argues<\/a> that lengthening the qualifying period for settlement is driven by a desire to reduce the benefits bill. This is based on the (questionable) assumption that migrants from certain backgrounds represent a net cost to the taxpayer over the course of their lifetimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to <em>Politics Home, <\/em>Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politicshome.com\/news\/article\/stance-on-immigration-could-produce-another-windrush-generation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">warned<\/a> that immigration policies \u201ccould produce another Windrush generation.\u201d By retrospectively penalising people who entered the country through irregular routes, as the government is now doing, she believes there could be a new tranche of people with unclear immigration status in years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Westminster Hall <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theyworkforyou.com\/whall\/?id=2025-07-01a.88.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">debate<\/a> on July 1, Home Office minister Seema Malhotra reiterated government policy, although she added that \u201cwe will be looking at new thinking and new models around earned settlement and earned citizenship in the consultation that we will launch later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brian Leishman, MP, who initiated the debate, noted that the Scottish Refugee Council\u2019s Sabir Zazai would not get citizenship if he were applying now. Sabir has three honorary doctorates and an OBE. \u201cIt is difficult to imagine a more compelling example of integration,\u201d Leishman said, \u201cBut because he arrived here in the back of a lorry from Afghanistan, this Government would exclude him from ever being a British citizen.\u201d The <em>Guardian\u2019s <\/em>Nesrine Malik <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2025\/jun\/02\/british-citizenship-five-year-labour-immigration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">added<\/a>: \u201cI got British citizenship via the five-year route. Labour\u2019s new 10-year rule will cause untold pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organisations in Greater Manchester have signed <a href=\"https:\/\/asylummatters.org\/2025\/05\/02\/greater-manchester-says-no-to-the-attack-on-citizenship-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">an open letter<\/a> calling for action on the \u201ccitizenship ban.\u201d The letter is being sent to MPs and lead council members in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, there are two legal challenges to the rules change, one by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilsonllp.co.uk\/news\/wilson-solicitors-act-in-challenge-to-good-character-british-citizenship-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Wilson Solicitors<\/a> and another by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlewis.co.uk\/InthePress\/The_Independent_Spotlights_Duncan_Lewis_Legal_Challenge_Against_Home_Offices_Citizenship_Policy_(8_May_2025).html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Duncan Lewis Solicitors<\/a>. Charities in the sector <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atleu.org.uk\/cases-news\/legal-challenge-to-good-character-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">provided witness evidence<\/a> for the second challenge, and <em>The Independent <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/small-boat-refugees-british-citizenship-home-office-b2746288.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">looked at<\/a> the background to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together with Refugees, with the Immigration Law Practitioners\u2019 Association (ILPA), has a <a href=\"https:\/\/ilpa.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/BSAIB_-Joint-Briefing-on-Good-character-amendment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">briefing<\/a> on the citizenship aspect of the \u201cgood character\u201d test (endorsed by CIH and over 100 other bodies). ILPA wrote to the home secretary in February and <a href=\"https:\/\/ilpa.org.uk\/ilpa-letter-to-home-secretary-re-updated-good-character-guidance-26-february-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">here<\/a> you can see the letter and the response. ILPA has also <a href=\"https:\/\/ilpa.org.uk\/ilpa-letter-to-home-affairs-select-committee-re-updated-good-character-guidance-1-april-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">written<\/a> to the Home Affairs Select Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The West Midland Refugee and Migrant Centre also has a <a href=\"https:\/\/rmcentre.org.uk\/news\/new-good-character-guidance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">straightforward guide<\/a> to the change, and Migrants\u2019 Rights Network has a <a href=\"https:\/\/migrantsrights.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Refugee-Citizenship-Ban-Feb-2025-Changes-to-the-%E2%80%98Nationality_-good-character-guidance.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">factsheet<\/a>. <em>Free Movement<\/em> has a useful <a href=\"https:\/\/freemovement.org.uk\/good-character-guidance-amended-to-block-refugees-from-naturalisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">commentary<\/a> on the ban and its antecedents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together With Refugees has tabled an amendment to the Border Security Bill, which would ensure the new measures are not applied contrary to the UK\u2019s international legal obligations, including the Refugee Convention. You can find the amendment on page 28 <a href=\"https:\/\/bills.parliament.uk\/publications\/61435\/documents\/6684?link_id=0&amp;can_id=e4b0911a8647ff390a04a4784286bea4&amp;source=email-urgent-action-joint-open-letter-on-border-security-summit-2&amp;email_referrer=email_2782169&amp;email_subject=urgent-action-briefing-on-citizenship-ban&amp;&amp;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Refugee Council has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.refugeecouncil.org.uk\/stay-informed\/statistics-and-research\/new-roots-new-futures-the-need-for-a-national-refugee-integration-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">timely report<\/a>, <em>New Roots, New Futures: the need for a national refugee<\/em> <em>integration strategy<\/em>. It covers access to affordable housing and several other aspects of refugee integration which need to be addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opposition leader Kim Badenoch wants a Danish-style \u201cintegration plan\u201d which would involve moving non-UK tenants out of areas with high foreign-born populations. <em>UnHerd<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/unherd.com\/newsroom\/kemi-badenochs-danish-style-integration-plan-wont-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">discusses<\/a> the problems with carrying this out. The Conservative Party, far from pursuing greater integration, also wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/bestforbritain.org\/post\/3ltegxisqqc22?mc_cid=e847adf0b1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">exclude from welfare benefits<\/a> any household which has a family member who is a foreign national, regardless of how long they have been in the UK. Coincidentally, the DWP began <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdx5pw8pwg5o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">publishing data<\/a> on take-up of universal credit, by immigration status: they show little change in the proportion of claimants who were born overseas, which has varied between 15-17 per cent since 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paradoxically, Italy is voting in a referendum which would <em>allow<\/em> longstanding migrants to get citizenship. The <em>Financial Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/401e9234-0a3f-46bd-af7b-23089f870d6b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">explained<\/a> the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Squeezing out migrant workers in social care and the building industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yvette Cooper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/overseas-recruitment-for-care-workers-to-end\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">promises<\/a> that overseas recruitment of care workers \u201cwill end.\u201d But the <em>Financial Times\u2019 <\/em>Stephen Bush <a href=\"https:\/\/ep.ft.com\/permalink\/emails\/eyJlbWFpbCI6ImM1NWUwYThjNzJlYjVlZTVhMDIxYTcyNGMyNGEyNzQzZjg4MTViYzQwNjk3NTIiLCAidHJhbnNhY3Rpb25JZCI6IjY5ODAyMTU4LTVhNzEtNDY1Mi04M2ZmLWUzNzRhYTM2MDY5MyIsICJiYXRjaElkIjoiN2Y2ODZjN2ItMmE3ZS00MzQ5LTg0ZDMtZTE1ZWUwZjgyNDFmIn0=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">says<\/a> the government measures might turn us \u201cfrom a nation with a care industry into one without\u201d. The government has scrapped the existing care worker visa: this was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/e2e67889-5022-41bc-b259-f3c97441bb9d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">not a well-designed visa route<\/a>, Bush argues. But, nonetheless, he says: \u201cIf you scrap the social care visa and leave nothing in its place, you are going to run into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Morning Star <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/morningstaronline.co.uk\/article\/labour-delivers-crushing-blow-britains-fragile-care-sector\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">said<\/a> Labour had delivered a \u201ccrushing blow\u201d to the care sector. Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: \u201cThe NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who\u2019ve come to the UK from overseas.\u201d For the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Nandi Msezane, a social care worker, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebureauinvestigates.com\/stories\/2025-05-12\/migrant-workers-prop-up-the-uks-social-care-system-now-were-being-forced-out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">says<\/a> that \u201cMigrant workers prop up the UK\u2019s social care system. Now we\u2019re being forced out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/migrantsrights.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Migrants\u2019 Rights Network<\/a> argues that there has been a massive misrepresentation of care work as \u201clow skilled\u201d- yet it requires specialised training and is difficult in nature. Furthermore, the sector faces over 130,000 vacancies and difficulty recruiting domestically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the construction sector, <em>Fix Radio, <\/em>\u201cthe builders\u2019 station\u201d, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fixradio.co.uk\/fix-feed\/construction-news\/post\/immigration-plans-could-be-ticking-time-bomb-for-scottish-construction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">said<\/a> the new immigration proposals are \u201ca ticking time bomb\u201d for Scottish construction, potentially causing an exodus of skilled workers and leaving the sector with a massive skills gap. John Hayes, managing partner of specialist law firm Constantine Law, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/skills\/proposed-immigration-law-change-bad-news-for-construction-employers-say-experts-12-05-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">told<\/a> <em>Construction News <\/em>the measures will have a \u201cmassive, probably adverse impact on the construction sector.\u201d <em>The Guardian<\/em> also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/jun\/17\/tighter-immigration-rules-could-hit-uk-net-zero-mission-report-warns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">warned<\/a> that tighter immigration rules could hit the work needed to achieve the UK\u2019s net zero mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Conversation <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/four-myths-about-low-skilled-migration-busted-258046\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">looks at<\/a> four myths about migration levels, employment and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Labour\u2019s small-boat policy risks foundering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The white paper promises to \u201cto smash the smuggling gangs responsible for bringing small boats across the Channel.\u201d The scale of the task was apparent from news that the numbers arriving via small boats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/065e2ad1-762a-4188-8fb9-5ce90093a2db\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">soared<\/a> to 19,982 since January, setting a record for the first six months of the year. There were 13,489 arrivals in the first six months of 2024, the previous highest figure for this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Guardian<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/ng-interactive\/2025\/jun\/08\/smash-the-gangs-labour-migration-policy-slogan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">looked in detail<\/a> at the government\u2019s plans. And Amelia Gentleman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/ng-interactive\/2025\/jun\/08\/smash-the-gangs-labour-migration-policy-slogan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">asked<\/a> whether \u201csmash the gangs\u201d is just a slogan? Refugee charity Utopia 56 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2025\/jun\/20\/french-plans-to-stop-small-boats-will-lead-to-more-deaths-says-charity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">told<\/a> <em>The Guardian<\/em> that French plans to stop small boats will lead to more deaths. Zoe Gardner <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/07\/02\/almost-20-000-asylum-seekers-6-months-proves-a-crucial-point-23559917\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">told<\/a> <em>Metro<\/em> that government enforcement policies are having little impact. \u201cIt is to a far greater degree the weather and crossing conditions in the Channel that have real sway on how many people make the attempt, week in, week out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stephen Bush in the <em>Financial Times <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ec018bba-71e8-4d2a-ad69-0c9b9ae4c323\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">argues<\/a> that the Conservative party\u2019s previous success in \u201cstopping the lorries\u201d makes reducing illicit migration harder. Labour\u2019s big bet is that by reducing small boat crossings, total numbers coming here will shrink. But it may be that the Conservatives\u2019 success in restricting routes (so that the only unregulated one is the dangerous Channel crossing) means Britain has already \u201creduced\u201d the boats. Bush says that the government would be better off providing more documented routes to the UK, and that approach, coupled with methods to crush the gangs, would lead to fewer small boat arrivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Humans for Rights Network, Oxford Border Criminologies, Refugee Legal Support and Captain Support UK have written <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humansforrights.org\/i-told-them-the-truth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">a new report<\/a>, <em>I told them the truth &#8211; An update on the criminalisation of people arriving in the UK on small boats<\/em>. It includes testimonies from a child affected and from eight adults subject to criminal prosecution for illegal arrival and alleged facilitation. Prosecutions have continued under the Labour government, including of children treated as adults in the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cOur research shows that hundreds of people seeking safety in the UK have been imprisoned for arriving to the UK on a \u2018small boat\u2019 since 2022. Among those imprisoned are refugees, victims of trafficking and torture, and children prosecuted as adults. This practice breaches international law, and causes significant harm to people seeking safety in the UK.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of 2024, some 556 people had been charged with \u2018illegal arrival\u201d on small boats, and 455 convicted, many because they had their \u201chand on the tiller\u201d of a dinghy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in more news about small boats and undocumented migration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Full Fact <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/fullfact.org\/immigration\/conservative-small-boat-crime-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">looked at<\/a> Conservative Party claims that \u201cChannel migrants\u201d are 24 times more likely to go to prison than British citizens, and found them false.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>UnHerd<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/unherd.com\/2025\/06\/can-big-tech-stop-small-boats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">asks<\/a> \u201cCan Big Tech stop small boats?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zoe Gardiner eloquently <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/zoejardiniere.bsky.social\/post\/3lqsins63os2h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">explains<\/a> (again) why promises to stop immigration by politicians across Europe make no sense.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <em>Migration Observatory\u2019s<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk\/resources\/briefings\/unauthorised-migration-in-the-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">briefing<\/a> on unauthorised migration shows that estimates of numbers vary widely: reports published over the last decade put the figure at anything between 600,000 and 1,200,000 unauthorised migrants living in the UK.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The government continues to explore the notion of sending asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected to \u201creturn hubs\u201d \u2013 centres in a third country which would process the claims of people who have exhausted legal pathways in the UK. One of these is possibly Albania, but its prime minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/26\/third-country-asylum-plan-shows-uk-is-in-a-very-dark-place-says-albanian-pm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">described the scheme<\/a> as showing that the UK is in \u201ca very dark place.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the meantime, in the United States, the supreme court has given the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/07\/03\/us\/politics\/supreme-court-migrants-south-sudan.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">permission<\/a> to deport migrants with criminal records to South Sudan, a country at war. Eight men may now be sent there; only one is from Sudan, the others are from Vietnam, South Korea, Mexico, Laos, Cuba and Myanmar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, how is Labour doing on its pledges on migration? The <em>Migration Observatory <\/em>has a <a href=\"https:\/\/migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk\/resources\/commentaries\/labours-pledges-on-migration-the-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">briefing<\/a> which looks at five of its pledges and what progress has been made after almost a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are the government\u2019s immigration plans, announced in May, \u201cuntethered from reality\u201d (Jonathan Portes, in The Guardian)? Or is it that \u201cKeir Starmer loves a crackdown\u201d&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","slim_seo":{"title":"Ongoing reaction to the government\u2019s immigration plans - Housing Rights","description":"Are the government\u2019s immigration plans, announced in May, \u201cuntethered from reality\u201d ( Jonathan Portes , in The Guardian )? Or is it that \u201cKeir Starmer loves a c"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration-policy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/housing-rights.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}