Labour pledge to end ‘family break-up’ in immigration system overhaul
2 min read
Diane Abbott will today announce plans to end the break-up of migrant families resulting from Britain’s immigration rules.
The Shadow Home Secretary said the “fair and reasonable” approach would mean the carers or parents of admitted child refugees would have the right to move to the UK.
She will also call for an end to the practice of deporting children without entitlement to be in the UK once they turn 18, even when their parents are able to remain.
In a broader speech in London later today, Ms Abbott will “identify a large number of current policies that will be altered or discontinued” under a Labour government.
She is expected to take aim at the Conservatives’ “policy of a failed numerical target”, which she will brand a “hostile environment” that has led to “the scandalous situation where we are turning away Doctors, even though there is a severe shortage of trained personnel in the NHS”.
Ms Abbott will also renew Labour’s commitment, made at the last general election, to scrap ministers’ “false and unworkable net migration target” of bringing levels down to below 100,000 a year.
A Conservative Party spokesman told the Press Association Labour’s policy would act as a “dangerous incentive” to those considering making hazardous journeys to reach Europe from Africa.
“Labour’s policy would risk breaking up families by creating a dangerous incentive for children to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean and onto the UK on their own,” they said.
“Our immigration policy will always support those in genuine need and those who need our help the most.
“That’s why we are resettling 23,000 vulnerable refugees, including children with their families, from the camps around the Middle East and North Africa.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
