UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – More than 900 Labour members criticized the party’s migration and asylum policies, accusing the government of copying the Conservatives’ failed policies.
A collective of more than 900 Labour figures and trade unionists, including MPs and peers, have slammed the government for replicating the “performative cruelty” of the Tories’ approach to migration and asylum.
What did Labour members say about the Home Office’s new citizenship rules?
Labour members, in a joint statement, condemned the Home Office’s recent decision to refuse citizenship to anyone who enters the UK via a “dangerous journey,” like travelling on small boats over the Channel.
The statement also criticized the government’s focus on deportation numbers, citing a Home Office media campaign last week that featured footage of individuals being taken away on planes.
Who signed the Labour statement condemning the Home Office’s migration policy?
The statement, crafted by the Labour Campaign for Free Movement and the left-aligned group Momentum, has been endorsed by the following MPs:
- Nadia Whittome
- Diane Abbott
- Bell Ribeiro-Addy
- Clive Lewis
- Jon Trickett
- Brian Leishman
- Steve Witherden
Along with four independent former Labour MPs and four peers from the party, they have signed the statement.
What did Labour members say in their statement on the government’s migration policy?
The statement stated,
“Last week the government has published videos of deportations, restated its intention to criminalise people arriving irregularly, and banned them from ever becoming British citizens.”
It continued,
“These measures mimic the performative cruelty of the failed Tory governments rejected by voters last July. They also breach Britain’s international obligations to respect the right to claim asylum and guarantee safe routes.”
The document further said,
“Far from being a drain on this country, migrants from all over the world enrich our society in every sense. Anti-migrant politics will not build a single house, staff a single hospital or raise anyone’s wages. Instead, by echoing its rhetoric, the government is simply fuelling the rise of Reform UK.”
The group also urged Labour leaders to understand that the party’s victory depends on meeting the needs of the majority, with a focus on addressing austerity, the climate crisis, corporate exploitation, and building a politics of working-class unity.
Why did 148 signatories urge reconsideration of the asylum seekers’ citizenship plan?
A letter signed by 148 individuals, including Christina McAnea and nine Church of England bishops, warned that the proposal to strip nearly all asylum seekers of citizenship would foster division and mistrust, potentially inciting assaults on migrant housing.
The letter urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to
“urgently reconsider the decision to effectively ban tens of thousands of refugees from ever becoming British citizens.”
Why is Labour using Reform-style ads on deportations?
To tackle the rise of Reform UK, Labour has revealed a series of ads featuring messaging and branding aligned with the right-wing party.
A series of Facebook adverts from UK Migration Updates highlight the government’s deportation figures. These ads use a blue tone similar to Reform UK’s without displaying the Labour logo.
Labour has also created a Facebook group called “Protect Britain’s Communities” to draw attention to the government’s handling of crime and antisocial behaviour.
The party insiders claimed that the ads are part of a larger effort to target Labour voters who might be considering a shift to Reform, a group that polls show is gaining momentum.
What did Labour announce about denying citizenship to small boat refugees?
Last week, the Home Office revised its policy, making it nearly impossible for refugees who enter the UK by small boat to qualify for British citizenship.
In its updated guidelines, the department has informed staff that refugees who arrive after making a dangerous journey will usually be rejected for citizenship.
Under the former rules, refugees who reached Britain via irregular routes would need to wait a decade before being eligible for citizenship.