43 h. ago Shabana Mahmood hits out at Tommy Robinson’s backing of Labour’s migration policy

Shabana Mahmood has said she finds it “deeply offensive” when MPs quote Tommy Robinson at her in the Commons, after the far-right activist backed the government’s sweeping asylum reforms.

Events

67 h. ago How Europe’s immigration crackdown is fuelling smuggling gangs – video

It has been 10 years since the migrant crisis began - when thousands of people fleeing war, persecution and poverty sought refuge in Europe. A decade later, migration remains one of the continent’s most divisive and politicised issues.Across Europe, anti-immigrant policies have hardened, physical border walls have gone up, and new barriers - both visible and invisible - continue to appear. As a result, migrants are forced on to ever more dangerous routes in search of safety. And the smuggling gangs that EU politicians claim to want to stop are growing more powerful than ever.The Guardian’s European community affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam, and video journalist Frances Rankin travel to the edges of ‘Fortress Europe’ to find out what 10 years of tightening migration policy means for people on the move today. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago 'I am the one that's regularly called a f***ing P***': Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hits back at MP's claim she's 'stoking division' as she unveils asylum overhaul

In a forthright response to critics, Ms Mahmood described to the House of Commons how she is 'regularly called a f***ing P*** and told to go back home'.

Events

4 d. ago Labour MP calls asylum plans ‘dystopian’ as government accused of ‘performative cruelty’ by rival parties – UK politics live

Nadia Whittome says government has sunk so low it is being praised by Tommy Robinson as SNP and Plaid Cymru criticise plansMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Labour MPs hit out at ‘performative cruelty’ of Shabana Mahmood’s asylum crackdown

Labour backbenchers accuse government of ‘chasing Reform’ with new measures

Events

4 d. ago Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister

Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of people seeking asylum in UKAsylum seekers could have jewellery or other valuables taken to pay for the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office minister has said, in another detail of changes to migration policy likely to cause concern among Labour MPs.Speaking to broadcasters before the formal announcement of sweeping changes to asylum policy on Monday, the Home Office minister Alex Norris said while this would not involve seizing wedding rings, jewellery without sentimental value could be taken. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Government looking at ‘every aspect’ of migration policy – Taoiseach

Tanaiste Simon Harris, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, said migration was ‘too high’ in Ireland.

Politics

3 w. ago Tories will not deport legally settled people, Badenoch clarifies

Katie Lam spoke ‘imprecisely’ in stating large number of people would ‘need to go home’, says Conservative leader UK politics live – latest updatesThe Conservative MP Katie Lam spoke “imprecisely” in stating the party would deport large numbers of legally settled families from the UK, Kemi Badenoch said, adding she had no plans to make tougher immigration rules retrospective.Badenoch’s comments to reporters after a speech in London end days of confusion over Tory migration policy, particularly over whether many thousands of people who have made lives in the UK could lose their status of indefinite leave to remain (ILR) under a future Conservative government. Continue reading...

Politics