That this House notes with concern the new Home Office guidance issued this month, which states that anyone who enters the UK irregularly will be refused naturalisation, regardless of how long they have lived in the UK; further notes that this policy could permanently bar many refugees from becoming British citizens; regrets that the former Conservative government closed safe and legal routes to sanctuary, leaving many desperate people with no choice but to make perilous journey in the control of criminal smugglers and traffickers; believes that this policy will not deter dangerous Channel crossings or disrupt criminal trafficking networks, but will instead hinder refugee integration and undermine the UK’s obligations under international law, which protect refugees from being penalised for illegal entry; and calls on the Government to bring forward new guidance that ensures a path to citizenship for refugees, enabling refugees to fully integrate into our communities and contribute to our economy, while providing safe and legal routes to sanctuary for refugees.
Signatories (43)
- Lisa Smart Sponsor
- Helen Morgan
- Wendy Chamberlain
- Steve Darling
- Olly Glover
- Tom Gordon
- Mr Angus MacDonald
- Edward Morello
- Monica Harding
- Wera Hobhouse
- Anna Sabine
- Brian Mathew
- Helen Maguire
- Tom Morrison
- Clive Jones
- Jess Brown-Fuller
- Caroline Voaden
- Alison Bennett
- Sarah Dyke
- Dr Roz Savage
- Jamie Stone
- Martin Wrigley
- Liz Jarvis
- Andrew George
- Manuela Perteghella
- Chris Coghlan
- Christine Jardine
- Pippa Heylings
- Claire Hanna
- Tim Farron
- Mr Will Forster
- Ellie Chowns
- Ian Sollom
- Marie Goldman
- Rachael Maskell
- Vikki Slade
- Calum Miller
- Munira Wilson
- Zöe Franklin
- Mr Lee Dillon
- John McDonnell
- Ian Roome
- James MacCleary