Luke Piper

They have said they will be updating article 8 definitions in a future piece of primary legislation (expected in May's Kings Speech). So yes, tightening is coming. Although a lot of the principles under article 8 have been litigated so it doesn't give them much wriggle room.

All these people will have various types of human rights claims to stay in the UK at various points. E.g. children born and living in the UK for 7+ years are entitled to status. They will need their parents. Similarly, long lawful residence = increased private life and qualification for status.

These changes will be brought in via the Immigration Rules. They are not voted on and do not require input from MPs. This is political trolling. Fine by me. The more these proposals get exposure, the clearer it will be to the public how nuts they are.

NEW: Shabana Mahmood has put herself on collision course with Labour MPs after announcing changes to immigration system.

The home sec said they were needed to restore control at the border and combat rising appeal of hard-right parties like Reform UK.

Shabana Mahmood has kicked off quite the internal Labour row with her proposals this morning to change the immigration system.

Here are a selection of quotes from Labour MPs:

Updated net migration projection including the latest data. I've revised the emigration estimates down for 2026. But immigration is falling much faster than I expected so that has also been revised down, leaving the net figures largely the same. Very tentatively including 2027 figures.

Latest statement of changes to the rules are usual mixed bag but with a particular focus on asylum/refugee procedure. This has particularly stuck out. I'm not sure the immigration rules are the right vehicle for this. Especially given the data / risks involved.

Really encapsulates the complexity caseworkers will face when deciding these applications. Lots of tricky rules with discretion and failsafes never make for easy decisions.

Hi! Immigration lawyer here! Mahmood's view of the Refugee Convention as providing temporary protection just isn’t correct & AFAIK isn’t one anyone has ever adopted.

On the contrary, the Convention is clearly predicated on a long-term need for protection.
1/🧵

A big fear I had with the Ukraine scheme was essentially green lighting this idea of temporary status and picking and choosing bits of the convention. Based on her statement today that fear wasn't misplaced.

Another day, another statement from the Home Secretary due today in the Commons. This time with a broader subject matter of "migration reforms" commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/102...

China used UK Border Force officer for 'shadow policing operations', court told Retired Hong Kong police superintendent Chung Biu (Bill) Yuen, 65, is alleged to have tasked Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and others with missions.

China used UK Border Force officer for 'shadow policing operations'

China used a Border Force officer to carry out "shadow policing operations" in the UK including spying on dissidents and forcing entry to a suspected fraudster's flat, a court has heard.

Mahmood to stop study visas from four countries due to 'abuse' The government will end study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, due to what says is abuse.

Further details of what we can expect in tomorrow's Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In just over a week, we'll be uniting with grassroots groups, unions and allies from across the country to tell MPs loud and clear: oppose the harmful earned settlement plans.

There has never been a more important moment to stand with migrants and refugees.

@mattdathan.bsky.social in the other place posted this. The Times piece suggested the ILR changes will apply to the 2021 cohort and that those changes will come in the Autumn. This post is more assertive.

Refugee status to be temporary as Shabana Mahmood rips up rules on UK asylum Home secretary announces 30-month protection limit, with refugees required to leave if their home countries are later judged safe

Important details in this piece about the changes to refugee status and future timetable for other changes including Earned Settlement.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

There is a statement on asylum changes being made on Monday. So there is that. On Earned Settlement, difficult to tell but rules changes usually come 1st/2nd week in March so that is an opportunity. They'll be the thing to watch out for.

This is being pushed hard across media outlets. Looks like it'll be "asylum/immigration week" next week then... Right timing given the second week of march usually has rules changes in it.

And on Monday's order paper is a written statement on "asylum changes". Next week would also be when the Spring statement of changes to the immigration rules are often laid.

Unsurprisingly, it looks like the Government will argue for their Earned Settlement policy by bundling it with their asylum/refugee proposals. Difficult to not conclude that this is a tactic to avoid debate on any substance.

This was obvious to anyone looking at this. They created a policy that attacks people's very status to be able to live in a country and settle. No amount of saying "rules change" will help.

Alot of Labour MPs get this and are rightly livid. This should be a big wake up call for the rest.

On 11th March, we’re turning up to Parliament in the Mass Lobby for Migrant Rights.

Along with migrant and refugee groups, unions, and faith groups we’re going to call on as many MPs as possible to oppose the Government’s earned settlement plans.

Learn more: www.praxis.org.uk/mass-lobby-a...

Nice straw man you're arguing with there.

For the uninitiated. These cases cost huge sums and the losing party usually pays the other party's costs. It's rarely obvious from these sorts of decisions.

Another High Court judicial review of a sponsor licence revocation in favour of the Home Office. The sponsor had used an incorrect code for 97 people, paid someone less than they said they would, had no system to monitor staff's leave expiry and other errors. www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...

Labour and Reform have the same conclusion. They believe too many people have come to the UK and are not sufficiently integrated. They differ on scope, policy and how they talk about it.

So. new rules on British dual nationals come in tomorrow. I have had hundreds of emails from Brits overseas impacted. Including a few tonight saying a Canadian airline will not accept expired passport. Do email lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com if you know D.N. stopped from boarding flight from 2moro

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

UPE extended by 24 months (max 3.5 years). Window to apply extended from a month to 90 days. Same rights as before. But still no route to settlement. Plus a final few ominous statements about helping support people with rebuilding their lives. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

I can see how that is part of it for some. Others I think have unknowingly (probably being generous) accepted the political consensus it is ok to attack and demonise migrants. It's when the obvious is pointed out that they end up fighting over who is more hateful and can't budge.

If it wasn't obvious.

Morally: a disgrace
Legally: a nightmare

I can already hear the 'we are sovereign' cavalry