Editorial: No more time for…

Editorials

Editorial: No more time for excuses

There seemed to be a tiny spark of hope for thousands of international students at a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on 10 September. Permanent Secretary for the Home Office Matthew Rycroft agreed on camera that his Department should offer a way for students wrongly accused of cheating and wrongly stripped of their visas six years ago to prove their innocence and restart their lives. “The Home Office should give innocent people the opportunity to clear their names,” insisted Stephen Timms MP (long-time advocate on this issue) at that hearing.…

There seemed to be a tiny spark of hope for thousands of international students at a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on 10 September. Permanent Secretary for the Home Office…

Editorial: A cry for help

We recently spoke to a number of young Eritreans being held inside Zintan detention centre in Libya and others living on the streets of Tripoli. Their words were a cry for help. Many of those who are attempting the dangerous crossing from France to the UK fled the same horrors in their home countries as these young men, and faced the same inhumanity as they travelled through (or were sent back to) Libya as they sought to reach the safety of Europe. We know that the conditions in which they are…

We recently spoke to a number of young Eritreans being held inside Zintan detention centre in Libya and others living on the streets of Tripoli. Their words were a cry…

Editorial: Much ado about nothing

While Parliament is in recess, we need to see talk of Home Office reform being turned into action – and action that goes far beyond the specific scandals of Windrush. Currently, the prospect of such action being taken is a distant one. In response to the Wendy Williams review into Windrush and broader Home Office culture, the Home Secretary has promised “sweeping reforms” to her department, to its “culture, policies, systems and working practices”. She has described the Windrush scandal as a “stain” on the Home Office and acknowledged that “apologising is…

While Parliament is in recess, we need to see talk of Home Office reform being turned into action – and action that goes far beyond the specific scandals of Windrush. …

Editorial: A points-based fiasco

The details of the UK’s Points-Based System, published by the Government today, make for dismal reading. This is the system we feared all along – one that would see our communities become financially, socially and culturally poorer, and many of those eager to come and work in the UK and contribute to our society barred. Since it was first proposed, we wanted this scheme scrapped – and we still do. It’s claimed in the Introduction to today’s document – and in all of the marketing for this scheme – that it’s…

The details of the UK’s Points-Based System, published by the Government today, make for dismal reading. This is the system we feared all along – one that would see our communities…

Editorial: Lessons Learned?

The recent announcement that the government will accept all 30 of the recommendations from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review was a refreshing sign of a willingness to listen at the top. Never before has the Home Office committed to embark on a cultural reform programme of this scope on migration and race. This has the potential to be a big moment. The difficulties of implementing such wide-reaching reform cannot be underestimated - it will only be achieved with significant will and leadership. Can the Home Office rise to the challenge? The time has surely…

The recent announcement that the government will accept all 30 of the recommendations from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review was a refreshing sign of a willingness to listen at the top. Never before has…

Editorial: Status Now

The hostile environment is not working – for anyone. A new report by the National Audit Office criticises the Home Office on two counts – not knowing if its hostile policies are having the desired effect, and not knowing how many undocumented migrants are in the UK. If only the Home Office had asked us, we could have told them that this policy causes untold suffering to untold numbers of people on a daily basis and does little, if anything, to “encourage” undocumented people to leave the UK, as they hoped it…

The hostile environment is not working – for anyone. A new report by the National Audit Office criticises the Home Office on two counts – not knowing if its hostile policies are…

Editorial: Pride in standing together

The arrival of June marks Pride month. Ever since the Stonewall uprisings of June 1969, this has been a chance for LGBTQ+ communities around the world to celebrate. Although many of these celebrations are virtual this year, their message of diversity, equality and freedom of expression is no less vital. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. Migrant Voice stands with the LGBTQ+ community. Ensuring safety and dignity for all people, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation or immigration status, must continue to be a priority for governments and communities across the…

The arrival of June marks Pride month. Ever since the Stonewall uprisings of June 1969, this has been a chance for LGBTQ+ communities around the world to celebrate. Although many of…

Editorial: End this double taxation

Migrant NHS workers will no longer have to pay an extortionate surcharge to use the healthcare system that they help to sustain. Last week's U-turn by the government on this was both welcome and unexpected. But it doesn't go far enough. Just like Brits, migrants contribute to the NHS through taxes. Demanding £400 extra per year - rising to £624 from October - is a form of double taxation. It also adds to the extortionate cost of visas themselves, which are crippling for many. Because of these costs, teachers, bus…

Migrant NHS workers will no longer have to pay an extortionate surcharge to use the healthcare system that they help to sustain. Last week's U-turn by the government on this…

Editorial: 'Troubling' - visa fees during Covid-19

Shantel works in a care home in Birmingham. On top of the unimaginable stress of the last few weeks, she has had to apply to renew her visa, which, at the time of writing, expires in two days. She can’t afford the extortionate fee, so she applied for a fee waiver more than a month ago, but she’s still waiting to hear if that’s been granted. If it’s rejected, she will have to find around £2,100 in the next 48 hours. This pandemic has undoubtedly left many people feeling vulnerable…

Shantel works in a care home in Birmingham. On top of the unimaginable stress of the last few weeks, she has had to apply to renew her visa, which, at…

Editorial: Act now, save lives

Six weeks ago, we called on the Government to make eight simple changes that would make it possible for all migrants to keep themselves and others safe from Covid-19. Only one has been made (ending in-person tribunal hearings), with tinkering around the edges on some others. This lack of decisive action has left unknown numbers of migrants around the UK struggling to feed themselves and their families, living in unsafe, insecure accommodation, too scared to access healthcare, and fearful for their futures. Some could even lose their lives, dying at home from…

Six weeks ago, we called on the Government to make eight simple changes that would make it possible for all migrants to keep themselves and others safe from Covid-19. Only one has…

Editorial: No more time for excuses

Editorials