Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum PolicyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is nothing humane or socialist—or, indeed, any other group that people might want to put themselves into—about paying people smugglers a…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum HotelsI recognise the huge pressure that asylum hotels have placed on communities. This Government are committed to exiting asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. We have already…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI am not going to provide a running commentary on countries. The right hon. Member will know that I referenced Syria specifically in my statement. Many thousands of Syrians were…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI tell my hon. Friend not to defend a status quo that sees people paying a ton of money—thousands of pounds—to people smugglers in order to get on a boat and make a dangerous…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI thank my hon. Friend for her question. The whole purpose of the new safe and legal routes is that those individuals are accepted as refugees before they enter the United…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyLet me tell my right hon. Friend first that there will, in the usual way, be a full equality impact assessment for all these measures. As the consultations take place and as the…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyWe will always abide by our obligations under the refugee convention and we do believe in offering sanctuary, but we make no apology for the fact that those who enter illegally by…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyThe totality of the reforms will, we believe, lead to less pressure on accommodation, so I think the short answer to my hon. Friend’s question on HMOs is yes. I recognise the…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Minister for Immigration has met his counterparts in the devolved Administrations. We will keep all those conversations going,…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI urge my hon. Friend to look at the proposals on protection work and study and on safe and legal routes. It is right that we try to pivot to a more humane system that privileges…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI look forward to welcoming the hon. Member’s application to join immigration enforcement. If he wants to write to me about that specific example, I will look into it. I know that…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyLet me just make a point about Ukraine that I think was not understood fully by those who were questioning me at the weekend. It is a bespoke scheme created only for Ukrainians,…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI thank my hon. Friend for her question. Countries across Europe are tightening up their rules, and it is important that we do not become or remain an outlier. In fact, it is a…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I endorse every word that she said.17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI do believe it complies with those principles. At the moment at the end of the five years there is already supposed to be a safe country review. We will bring that forward and…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyLet me assure the hon. Member that I am making changes that I will ensure will work. I make no apology for disincentivising routes into this country that basically make people…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyWe are already supposed to do safe country reviews, and we will ensure that they are done every two-and-a-half years. We will also ensure that wherever possible refugees can move…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI have a lot of time and high regard for my hon. Friend. What I would say is that he should not allow mischief making by those he names to throw him or our party off course, and I…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI will clarify a point of fact. The hon. Member said that I describe myself as a child of immigrants. It is not a description; it is just a statement of fact. Everything else she…17 Nov 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyI gently point out to my hon. Friend that we have a large number of failed asylum seekers—that is to say, people whose claims have not succeeded and who do not have the right to…17 Nov 2025