RAMP (Refugee, Asylum and Migration Policy) Project

Chris Murray MP spoke about asylum accommodation contracts. He asked the Minister whether the Government will use next year’s break clause to review or end the current asylum contracts and how effectively the Home Office has managed them so far.

In response, Tony Vaughan KC MP agreed with Tim Farron MP, saying asylum seekers need proper legal aid and that resolving claims early is more efficient and cost-effective than addressing them later in the process.

Tim Farron MP spoke about legal aid, noting initial asylum backlogs fell 18% but appeals rose 88%. He highlighted that around half of asylum seekers lack legal representation, suggesting that better access to legal aid would help speed up the process.

Tony Vaughan KC MP spoke about asylum support, noting that asylum seekers cannot access mainstream benefits and receive £49.18 a week, below standard rates. He said the system isn’t a pull factor and highlighted that cuts would increase homelessness and strain public services.

There was a Westminster Hall Debate yesterday evening relating to support and accommodation for asylum seekers following e-petitions 705383 and 718406. RAMP Principals Tony Vaughan KC MP, Chris Murray MP and Tim Farron MP took part.🧵

In response, the Home Secretary said the UK’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights underpins key agreements. She added that any discussion on reforming the convention should be handled responsibly, and confirmed she would continue this approach.

Tony Vaughan MP noted that leaving the EU ended the returns agreement, which was not replaced then but has since been addressed by the Government. He asked the Home Secretary if France would have agreed to a returns deal had the UK left the European Convention on Human Rights.

In response, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said international cooperation is essential to strengthening border security and confirmed she is in contact with French counterparts. She described the UK–France returns deal as a landmark agreement and said work is under way.

Chris Murray MP highlighted the importance of international cooperation on illegal immigration and welcomed the UK’s “one in, one out” returns deal with France. He asked for an update on its progress and whether discussions had taken place with French counterparts.

Home Office Oral Questions took place in the Commons yesterday afternoon. RAMP Principals Tony Vaughan MP and Chris Murray MP took part. 🧵

Tim Farron MP argued that uncertainty over settlement rules is unfair to migrants, risks driving away skilled workers, creates difficulties for employers, and ultimately harms the economy.

Olivia Blake MP argued that extending the qualifying period for settlement may reduce the UK’s attractiveness to international talent, which could have implications for science and research in universities which rely on skilled workers.

Chris Murray MP argued the current immigration system has few tools to promote integration and suggested that if the qualifying period for settlement is extended, the Government should take a more creative approach to designing a system that benefits both migrants and communities

Yesterday evening there was a Westminster Hall Debate on a potential increase in the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain following e-petitions 727360 and 727356. RAMP Principals took part in the debate🧵

APPG on Migration member Tony Vaughan KC MP shared his reflections from the APPG visit to France during a BBC South East interview. He noted that UK–France cooperation on migration has significantly improved in both scale and quality, marking a clear shift from previous years.

The Home Secretary said the UK will develop the small boats agreement with France over time, building on past security co-operation such as juxtaposed controls and border checks. She also stressed that working with neighbouring countries is key to stronger border security.

Murray noted that small boat crossings rose after the UK left the EU without a returns deal and asked the Home Secretary if returns from outside the EU are unprecedented. He also sought clarity on success criteria, scaling plans, and future UK-EU relations if the pilot succeeds.

There was a Commons Chamber debate yesterday following the Home Secretary’s statement announcing the UK-France agreement to tackle small boat crossings. RAMP Principal Chris Murray MP took part in the debate. 🧵

Chris Murray MP argued that while citizenship has symbolic and legal value, settled refugees already contribute fully to British society, and the practical differences between settlement and citizenship are now largely limited to time and cost.

Tim Farron MP argued that denying citizenship is unlikely to deter those fleeing danger as such choices are made under duress. He said that in the absence of safe and legal routes those recognised as refugees should be supported in settling as full citizens, rather than penalised.

There was a Westminster Hall debate on refugee citizenship rights yesterday to discuss changes in the Home Office's 'good character' guidance, which restricts citizenship for individuals who arrived in the UK irregularly.

RAMP Principals Tim Farron MP and Chris Murray MP took part. 🧵

Lord Hanson reported a 15% drop in supported accommodation since the end of 2024 and a 42% decrease since September 2023. He also stated that resources from the Rwanda scheme now support faster asylum processing, and work rights for asylum seekers remain under consideration.

Lord German raised concerns about the suitability of current accommodation for both local communities and asylum seekers. He asked the Minister about progress on reducing the asylum case backlog and the potential for allowing asylum seekers to work to support themselves

In his response, the Minister stated the importance of safeguarding and reiterated the government's goal to move all asylum seekers out of hotels as soon as practical. He also noted that hotel use and associated costs have decreased compared to last year.

Baroness Lister asked Lord Hanson about the steps the Home Office is taking to strengthen safeguarding procedures following reports documenting unsafe treatment experienced by many asylum seekers living in hotels, especially LGBTQ people, women and children.

There was a Lord's debate yesterday on on asylum accommodation, following an Oral Question from Lord Evans on the standard of hotel accommodation provided to migrants.
RAMP Associates Baroness Lister and Lord German asked questions at the debate to the Home Affairs Minister, Lord Hanson.

She calls for the removal of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) policy for families in poverty, highlighting its harmful impact on children’s well-being and its contradiction with the government’s broader social and integration goals.

Child Poverty Won’t End if We Ignore Migrant Children | Parliament Politics Magazine The Prime Minister remarked that action on child poverty will be a “measure of what this government does”. I could not agree more. The Child Poverty Taskforce

In this article, RAMP Principal Olivia Blake MP argues that the UK’s Child Poverty Strategy cannot succeed unless it includes migrant children, who make up over a third of all children in poverty and are disproportionately affected by destitution.

parliamentnews.co.uk/child-povert...

Co-chair of the APPG on Migration, Olivia Blake MP hosted a Westminster Hall Debate yesterday on Child Poverty and No Recourse to Public Funds. 🧵

Olivia Blake: ‘Migrant children living in poverty is a hidden crisis’ - Politics.co.uk As MPs gather in Westminster for today’s spending review, I will be holding a debate on child poverty and No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). The discussion could not be more urgent. The debate comes ...

“Labour must change the story and take the necessary steps to alleviate poverty for all children in the UK — not just those with British passports”, writes Olivia Blake MP

🗣️ Migrant children living in poverty is a hidden crisis
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...