20Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Reversing Lib Dem Immigration Bill amendments risks “new Windrush-style Scandal”

Reversing Lib Dem Immigration Bill amendments risks “new Windrush-style Scandal”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Conservatives are risking a new Windrush-style scandal, as the Government overturned the Party's amendments to end indefinite immigration detention and protect the rights of British nationals living in the EU and EU citizens in the UK. This evening, Conservative MPs rejected all 10 cross-party amendments to the Government’s Immigration Bill, passed by the House of Lords earlier this month, including three from the Liberal Democrats. Amendment 5 – tabled by Liberal Democrat Lord Oates – would force the Government to provide EU citizens in the UK who are granted Settled or Pre-Settled Status with physical proof of their migration status, instead of the digital-only proof under the Government’s current system. It was rejected by 331 votes to 260. The 28-day time limit on…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Tories’ appeasement of anti-immigration lobby will cause chaos

Parliamentary news
Responding to a report from Migration Watch criticising the Government’s planned “points-based” immigration system, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “This shows how short-sighted it is for the Conservatives to focus all their attention on appeasing the anti-immigration lobby who will always want more. "Groups like Migration Watch are still not happy, even though the Government's new immigration system will be incredibly damaging to the NHS, social care and small businesses across the UK by excluding people with a valuable contribution to make. "Six months is nowhere near enough time for either employers or the Home Office to get ready for these new rules and all the red tape they will bring. Far from restoring public confidence in the immigration system, this will just cause chaos and confusion. “Liberal Democrats…
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22May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Migrant NHS & social care workers must be given must be given right to remain

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government has u-turned and will exempt NHS and care staff from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “This is a positive step from the Government but the PM must go further. All migrants working in the NHS & social care during this crisis should be given the right to stay in the UK, with no visa fees and no bureaucracy. “Thousands of NHS and care workers from around the world have made huge sacrifices and put themselves in danger for us. It should be unthinkable that the Home Office would ever force them to leave the country they have served so well.  “MPs from across Parliament who managed to pressure the Government into the exemption must now focus their attention on .giving these heroes the right…
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