A year on from the…

Editorials

A year on from the Casey review

It’s a common criticism of politics that there is a style of debate whereby reports on key issues are produced, covered on the news for a day, and then sink without trace. The criticism rings true of the response to Louise Casey CB’s controversial report into integration. Since its release a year ago, almost nothing has happened. If Casey’s report diagnosed some problems accurately, its prescriptions were ineffective. It appeared to work under the assumption that migrants are choosing to exist in silos and needed a more prodding and a…

It’s a common criticism of politics that there is a style of debate whereby reports on key issues are produced, covered on the news for a day, and then sink…

The case for a local migration strategy

This week, a Syrian boy arrived in Hammersmith and Fulham - the first refugee to be brought to the borough from the camps in Greece. The Home Office identified him as extremely vulnerable fourteen months ago. They agreed he was eligible to come to the UK under their very limited refugee protection scheme. Two months later a West London council, Hammersmith and Fulham, told officials they had a place for the child. But the Home Office did nothing for a year. It is only this week that the boy arrived. In that…

This week, a Syrian boy arrived in Hammersmith and Fulham - the first refugee to be brought to the borough from the camps in Greece. The Home Office identified him…

Home Office must respect confidentiality

Professional confidentiality is an essential component of our lives – it’s what enables us to feel secure with a doctor, a teacher or anyone else we may divulge personal details to. But in the newest offensive against migrants, that principle is at risk. The government’s plan to create a “hostile environment” for people who are undocumented has driven desperate people underground, had huge impacts on documented migrants and even citizens (many whom have been racially profiled), and yet is failing to achieve any of its stated aims. One investigation suggested…

Professional confidentiality is an essential component of our lives – it’s what enables us to feel secure with a doctor, a teacher or anyone else we may divulge personal details…

Close down the detention centres

Two years ago, a news investigation found abuse and violence perpretrated by staff against women at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre. And an independent report found Yarl’s Wood was holding vulnerable women for long periods in conditions causing serious distress and worsening mental health problems. This week a campaign led by Women for Refugee Women has exposed how severely traumatised survivors of rape and sexual violence are still regularly being locked up at Yarl’s Wood detention centre – breaching the government’s own policy on not detaining victims of violence. One…

Two years ago, a news investigation found abuse and violence perpretrated by staff against women at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre. And an independent report found Yarl’s Wood was holding…

NHS border regime needs urgent rethink

On the day it comes into force, the new NHS identity check system is already unravelling. A former NHS chief executive and hundreds of medical professionals have pleaded with the government to change course, and new research suggests pregnant and seriously ill migrants are already going without medical care due to fear of the new system. Hospitals are no place for border controls, and with an estimated third of vulnerable migrants saying that they are being deterred from seeking medical help, the policy may put wider public health at risk…

On the day it comes into force, the new NHS identity check system is already unravelling. A former NHS chief executive and hundreds of medical professionals have pleaded with the…

Austria must step back from the brink

Austria’s recent election results show that we all need to do more to win the argument for the benefits of refugee protection and a compassionate, common-sense approach to migration. The Austrian People’s Party (OVP), and the smaller and further-right Freedom Party (FPO), have worked in coalition government before to oversee a drop of over half in the number of asylum applications. Both have pursued policies that shut out the world, with the FPO maintaining that "the protection of cultural identity and social peace in Austria requires a stop to immigration."…

Austria’s recent election results show that we all need to do more to win the argument for the benefits of refugee protection and a compassionate, common-sense approach to migration. The…

Main party conference reports

Party conference season is usually an opportunity for political parties to step away from Parliament, debate the future and present the guiding principles of their plans for the future. There is much to discuss and digest from the season – but very little on migration, despite the combination of Brexit, the Europewide refugee situation, and a more interconnected world making the issue absolutely central to politics whether local or global. We were established because we were concerned about the toxic tone and misinformation that characterised the migration debate – but…

Party conference season is usually an opportunity for political parties to step away from Parliament, debate the future and present the guiding principles of their plans for the future. There…

Our response to the leaked document

The newly leaked immigration policy paper is a disaster waiting to happen. The paper outlines an approach that has been called a “Britain first” approach but it is nothing of the sort; driving down standards for foreign residents is not the same as improving standards for citizens. For instance, a spousal income threshold that prevents the least well-off 40% of Britons from living at home with a foreign partner would be extended to cover European citizens. Normal life would not be an option for foreign workers in other…

The newly leaked immigration policy paper is a disaster waiting to happen. The paper outlines an approach that has been called a “Britain first” approach but it is nothing…

The EU-Turkey Deal

The weather in Lesvos is improving, the sea is calmer and clearer, and so the number of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe is increasing. So are the deaths. So far 2,365 people have perished since January this year. Here we go again. With no let-up in the Syrian war; and fighting, human rights abuses and extreme poverty elsewhere people will continue to seek sanctuary and a better life, even if it means taking huge risks. It is a human instinct. As images of crowded boats and seas…

The weather in Lesvos is improving, the sea is calmer and clearer, and so the number of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe is increasing. So are the…

EU Withdrawal Bill cannot water down rights

The EU Withdrawal Bill (formerly the Great Repeal Bill) goes back on the government's commitment to safeguard the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit. The Government keep stating that they wish to uphold EU citizens’ rights. And yet the Bill grant them the power to amend, water down or remove rights in the event of a no-deal Brexit. That is why we alongside a number of leading organisations have called for the UK Government’s proposal from June 26th (on safeguarding the position of EU Citizens living in…

The EU Withdrawal Bill (formerly the Great Repeal Bill) goes back on the government's commitment to safeguard the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit. The Government…

A year on from the Casey review

Editorials

A year on from the Casey review

It’s a common criticism of politics that there is a style of debate whereby reports on key issues are produced, covered on the news for a day, and then sink…

The case for a local migration strategy

This week, a Syrian boy arrived in Hammersmith and Fulham - the first refugee to be brought to the borough from the camps in Greece. The Home Office identified him…

Home Office must respect confidentiality

Professional confidentiality is an essential component of our lives – it’s what enables us to feel secure with a doctor, a teacher or anyone else we may divulge personal details…

Close down the detention centres

Two years ago, a news investigation found abuse and violence perpretrated by staff against women at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre. And an independent report found Yarl’s Wood was holding…

NHS border regime needs urgent rethink

On the day it comes into force, the new NHS identity check system is already unravelling. A former NHS chief executive and hundreds of medical professionals have pleaded with the…

Austria must step back from the brink

Austria’s recent election results show that we all need to do more to win the argument for the benefits of refugee protection and a compassionate, common-sense approach to migration. The…

Main party conference reports

Party conference season is usually an opportunity for political parties to step away from Parliament, debate the future and present the guiding principles of their plans for the future. There…

Our response to the leaked document

The newly leaked immigration policy paper is a disaster waiting to happen. The paper outlines an approach that has been called a “Britain first” approach but it is nothing…

The EU-Turkey Deal

The weather in Lesvos is improving, the sea is calmer and clearer, and so the number of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe is increasing. So are the…

EU Withdrawal Bill cannot water down rights

The EU Withdrawal Bill (formerly the Great Repeal Bill) goes back on the government's commitment to safeguard the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit. The Government…

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