Stella Creasy says Home Office decision ‘erects more barriers’ to refugees integrating and contributing to communities in UKEarlier this week British Future, a thinktank that focuses on race, migration and identity, released some polling suggesting a majority of Labour voters, and a plurality of Britons, believe that people granted asylum in the UK should be able to get citizenship, even if they arrived on a small boat. The polling was commissioned in the light of the Conservative party’s policy announcement on citizenship, but it has become more topic in the light of the Home Office policy change.In its summary of the findings, British Future says:The survey also asked about refugees being able to apply to become citizens. A plurality (44%) agrees that “If someone was granted refugee status and lived legally in Britain for six years, they should be able to apply to become a British citizen, regardless of how they arrived in the UK to claim asylum,” while a third (33%) disagree. Six in ten Labour voters (62%) and Lib Dems (60%) are supportive of refugees being able to become citizens, regardless of how they arrived in the UK, while 20% of Labour voters disagree. Conservatives are split, with 40% agreeing that refugees should be able to apply to become a British citizen, regardless of how they arrived in the UK, while 42% disagree. Reform voters respond quite differently, with 68% disagreeing with the statement.The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of Article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/feb/12/pmqs-starmer-badenoch-small-boat-arrivals-citizenship-blocked-uk-politics-live-news
Author : Andrew Sparrow
Publish date : 2025-02-12 10:13:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
Backlash over ‘spiteful’ move to block small boat refugees from ever claiming British citizenship – UK politics live
