UK’s cruel immigration system needs overhaul

Rebecca Long Bailey, The Independent

With nearly five years of a Conservative government ahead of us, we know that communities up and down the country will suffer from Boris Johnson’s policies. And for all the talk of a departure from the agendas pursued by his predecessors, one shameful area of continuity is already clear: the Tories are determined to deepen their inhumane approach to immigration, with no break from either the hostile environment or closing Britain’s borders to refugees.

We have already seen the government vote down the Dubs amendment, cruelly attacking the rights of unaccompanied child refugees. Meanwhile the Home Office, never mind “learning the lessons of Windrush”, appears instead to be taking the scandal as a model to be replicated.

A charter flight to Jamaica will deport some black Britons who have lived here since they were young children, including a significant number convicted of minor, non-violent drug offences, and others who may well be citizens from Windrush families. In her determination to push ahead with these deportations, against urgent cross-party appeals and the expected recommendations of the Windrush review, Priti Patel, the home secretary, is laying bare the racism and cruelty that still sits at the heart of the Conservatives’ approach to immigration.

Diane Abbott has done heroic work as shadow home secretary fighting the government on the Windrush scandal and highlighting the shameful conditions at Yarl’s Wood detention centre. Under my leadership, I would ensure our party moves forward, taking the fight to Johnson with an uncompromising commitment to anti-racism and standing up for the rights of migrants and refugees.

In scrutinising upcoming negotiations with the European Union, we need to be firm in defending the rights of EU citizens living here, and those of British people living abroad. The government cannot use EU citizens as bargaining chips.

But championing the rights of migrants cannot be limited to the principle of free movement within Europe. Much more broadly, we need a new, humane immigration system rooted in our values, not one that sets caps and numerical targets. Our system should be welcoming, open and driven by respect for basic dignity and human rights.

As leader, I’d ensure Labour supports the fundamentals of such a new approach. That means backing voting rights and enfranchisement as citizens for all long-term UK residents, as well as an end to the “no recourse to public funds” policy, which pushes desperate people further into destitution, denying them access to basic services like homelessness support. And for any civilised society, the right to family reunion is simply non-negotiable: the spectacle of Johnson keeping child refugees apart from their parents and siblings is unconscionable and shames us all.

Ending the hostile environment has to include tackling its most violent and inhumane manifestations, not tinkering around the edges. It’s clear that punitive detention of people who move in search of safety and security is incompatible with our values. That’s why as Labour leader I will push for an end to indefinite detention and develop alternatives to inhumane detention centres, as well as supporting the right of asylum seekers to work while they are waiting for decisions on their cases from the Home Office.

Our socialism means, at its heart, realising collective aspirations and affording everyone the right to a dignified and fulfilling life. That means things like allowing asylum seekers the right to work and ensuring doctors and teachers aren’t forced to act as border guards are really bare minimums for the kind of aspirational socialist future we want to build.

Under my leadership, I’ll make sure Labour not only holds the government to account on meeting its international obligations, but is dedicated to fighting for a country whose attitude towards refugees is open and welcoming. This has never been more urgent. People fleeing from wars are being left to drown in the sea after the EU cancelled its sea rescue missions. And the climate emergency is here, with its impacts likely to lead to huge forced displacement.

So, alongside building a welcoming environment for refugees, we need to tackle the causes of forced movement. That means a foreign policy with justice and human rights at its heart, and rapidly decarbonising our economy to help mitigate the climate crisis.

People have the right to move, but they should also have the right to stay in their own homes and countries, in peace and security. Protecting both those rights should be at the heart of Britain’s approach to immigration, refugees and foreign policy.