UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour’s migration bill faced backlash for adopting Conservatives’ policies, such as detaining child migrants and limiting slavery protection.
Critics have accused Labour of rank hypocrisy after the party endorsed controversial Tory plans to detain child migrants as part of efforts to address Channel trafficking gangs.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is moving forward with a proposal to detain unaccompanied minors, whose ages are disputed by the Home Office, for up to 28 days, despite Labour’s repeated rejection of the Conservative Illegal Migration Act (IMA).
The Labour Party’s border security legislation revealed on Thursday, includes a ban on migrants claiming modern slavery safeguards, as well as a range of additional provisions the party had once opposed.
What did Amnesty International and the anti-slavery commissioner say about Labour’s migration bill?
A worldwide organization that campaigns to protect human rights, Amnesty International, has criticized Ms Cooper for “rank hypocrisy” for keeping elements of the Conservatives’ bill, warning that it would signal “disdain for human beings remains at the heart of this government.”
According to Eleanor Lyons, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, victims of modern slavery “deserve our compassion and support, and no new legislation should reduce victims’ rights.”
How have Labour politicians responded to the government’s immigration bill in the past?
Jess Phillips, the Labour safeguarding minister, had earlier described the Tory immigration legislation as a “trafficker’s dream” for its role in hiding the identification of modern slavery victims from British officials.
Former shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock, now serving as the health minister, described the bill as “deeply unethical,” stating that it makes it harder for modern slavery victims to ask for help and hampers criminal prosecution efforts. He criticized it as a “trafficker’s charter,” a gift for smugglers and pimps.
Dame Diana Johnson, from the Home Office, condemned the government’s decision to prioritize irregular migration over addressing smuggling, calling it “unnecessary and unjustified.”
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, slammed the legislation as “weak,” stating it simply “re-announces actions already taken by the previous government of Tories.”
How did John McDonnell, former shadow chancellor, describe the immigration bill?
John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, who now serves as an independent MP following his Labour suspension, opposed the bill, stating,
“It is beyond me why Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have done a complete reversal of our position before the election, vehemently opposing the Conservative policy of detaining children.”
Referring to the impact of the bill on child detention, he said,
“I remember when children were detained at Harmondsworth Detention Centre in my constituency.”
He described the experience as harmful, with lasting effects on the children’s lives. He expressed concerns that under the current government, the policies no longer align with the values he holds for the well-being of children.
What did the Green party leader say about the Labour’s immigration legislation?
In a recent statement, Carla Denyer, Green Party leader, expressed her concerns over Labour’s choice to keep frontbenchers in place who had once opposed the party’s position.
While speaking to The Independent, she stated that Britain should be offering assistance to those seeking safety and those hoping to rebuild their lives and reunite with their families.
Ms Denyer added,
“The only way to stop people smugglers is to create safe routes for people to come here fleeing violence or war, but this government’s new Bill contains no measures to do so.”
What’s included in the Labour Party’s immigration bill?
The bill will refrain human trafficking victims who enter Britain via this route from using the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which was established to identify and assist victims.
The proposed legislation focuses on criminal gangs responsible for trafficking tens of thousands of migrants across the English Channel annually, with measures intended to disrupt the smugglers’ operations and business structure.
The Labour bill outlines sanctions, including travel bans and social media blockages, for people trafficking suspects.
Ms Cooper, while revealing the bill, criticized the six-year period during which smuggling gangs have exploited the British borders, making millions from small boat crossings.