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Immigration Reforms — [Graham Stringer in the Chair]
17 March 2026
Lead MP
Pete Wishart
Perth and Kinross-shire
SNP
Responding Minister
Alex Norris
Tags
ImmigrationAsylum & RefugeesUkraine
Word Count: 13583
Other Contributors: 19
At a Glance
Pete Wishart raised concerns about immigration reforms — [graham stringer in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Home Secretary should not emulate Denmark's approach but instead challenge Reform's agenda by dismantling its toxic ambitions and promoting a compassionate immigration system that values unity and consensus. The Government must address the growing divide in British politics and ensure they are not seen as part of a right-wing coalition.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Home Secretary's reforms on asylum and immigration are described as arbitrary, cruel and restrictive. These include reducing refugee status from five years to 30 months, introducing an 'emergency brake' on visa applications for nationals from dangerous countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Cameroon, and Sudan, offering financial inducements for failed asylum seekers to return home, changing the law so it is no longer a legal duty to provide financial support to asylum seekers, and making the UK less attractive for those seeking refuge. These changes are criticised as undermining integration efforts and creating prolonged uncertainty, fear, and anxiety among refugees and asylum seekers.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
The hon. Member emphasised the importance of long-term funding for organisations like Manchester Refugee Support Network, which helped 2,980 people last year and requires £60,000 annually to operate.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
The hon. Member highlights the concerns over increased qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain and its impact on care workers and services for vulnerable people, arguing that this could lead to workforce instability.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
The hon. Member questions the impact of reforms on survivors of abuse, stating that perpetrators weaponise immigration status against their victims, leading to less access to support for survivors. Ms Begum intervened, urging the Government to provide clarity and support for constituents who have applications paused under the European Community association agreement route since November 2025. She intervened, asking the government to maintain protections for survivors of domestic violence who are migrants fleeing persecution abroad, including specific provisions like the migrant victims of domestic abuse concession.
Baggy Shanker
Lab Co-op
Derby South
Shanker asked whether changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) should not be retrospective, in line with the fairness concerns raised by his constituents who are worried about their living conditions and educational opportunities for their children.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
The MP criticised the government's immigration proposals for pricing children out of citizenship with high fees, extending ILR pathways, undermining trust in migration rules, and allowing profiteering in the asylum system.
Blake Stephenson
Con
Mid Bedfordshire
Called for ambitious reforms in the immigration system, citing a report on strengthening legal migration routes and exposing issues such as minimal financial requirements for visa holders and gaps in compliance data within the Home Office. He intervened by questioning Neil Duncan-Jordan about whether he was advocating for an amnesty for undocumented migrants in the UK and asked if such a policy would be seen as fair by British citizens.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
The speaker expressed concern about the current immigration reforms, which he argued do not align with Labour's values. He criticized the government for being tough on the weakest people who have fled war, oppression, and persecution, arguing that these reforms negatively impact their ability to integrate into British society. Asked his hon. Friend to clarify Labour's stance on social media posts showing people being bundled into the backs of vans.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
He highlighted the high concentration of asylum seekers in his constituency, emphasised the need for fair dispersal policies across the UK, and discussed the importance of robust border control while also acknowledging practical compassion towards those seeking refuge. He raised questions regarding an asylum visa system and avoiding cost shunts due to rapid asylum decision-making processes.
Feryal Clark
Lab
Enfield North
Clark agreed that the sweeping measures affect those who arrived under the ECAA route, setting up businesses and contributing to society but now face challenges in applying for ILR. She called for transitional protections as a matter of urgency.
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
The MP highlighted the impact of immigration policy on employment in his constituency, pointing out that there are labour shortages in care and hospitality sectors. He criticised the strict visa rules which prevent foreign workers from fulfilling care needs or working more hours to meet business demands.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Campbell pointed out the population increase in the UK over the past 25 years and argued that there is a distinction between legal migrants who contribute positively to society and those who enter illegally.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
The right hon. Gentleman's speech was praised by Iqbal Mohamed, who then questioned the Labour Government's policies on net migration before Brexit, noting that it rose from around 250,000 to over 900,000 post-Brexit. Asked if illegal care companies charging to issue visas to people who then arrive with no job were demonising legitimate care workers, emphasizing their invaluable contribution to the country. He provided a real-world example of Spain's approach to immigration, which allowed undocumented migrants to obtain legal residency after living in the country for five months. He highlighted how this policy aimed to address labour shortages and support economic growth while promoting social cohesion. Mohamed questions Forster about whether back-door migration issues under the previous government were exacerbated by Labour's policies, suggesting that Labour should address these inherited problems rather than deflecting responsibility.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The MP supported controlled immigration that benefits the economy but expressed concern over new English language thresholds for fishing crews, which may lead to a 70% loss of foreign workers within a year. He requested a meeting with the minister to discuss a bespoke visa system. Shannon expresses concern over inaction from French police regarding illegal immigration and questions whether the UK government's agreement with France is effective.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
He argued that there has been too much immigration into the country, displacing domestic skill investment and perpetuating a labour-intensive economy. He also highlighted three myths: economic necessity, multiculturalism without shared sense of belonging, and detrimental effects on public services due to population growth. Between April 2022 and March 2023, legal migration added 944,000 people. Congratulated the hon. Member for Perth and Kinross-shire on securing the debate, highlighting that the care visa system established by the previous government led to more dependants arriving than care workers, causing significant economic costs.
Poole
He highlighted concerns about the government's proposed changes to settlement rights, citing a constituent who expressed worry that these proposals would make life harder for migrants already contributing to society. He pointed out that such measures could exacerbate staffing crises in essential sectors like healthcare and social care, potentially turning them into catastrophes.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Ms Maskell criticised the Government's immigration policies, arguing that they undermine public services and economic growth. She highlighted the need for a more inclusive approach to international students in universities and urged the government to reconsider their stance on immigration reform.
Sally Jameson
Lab Co-op
Doncaster Central
The hon. Member interjected with 'That's not true!' without elaborating further on the topic.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Yemm supported a fair and controlled immigration system that works in the national interest, while acknowledging the need to transition away from illegal routes towards safe pathways. He highlighted the Government's efforts to save taxpayers' money by stopping abuse of the system.
Will Forster
Lib Dem
Woking
The Law Society's criticism of the Government's proposals to increase the time for migrants to be eligible for settlement from five to ten years is echoed. Will Forster highlights that these changes risk undermining the UK's reputation as a centre for global talent and impacting businesses' ability to recruit skilled workers. He also points out the chaos inherited from previous Conservative governments and criticises Reform MPs for their absence in addressing immigration issues.
Government Response
Alex Norris
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Stringer. I thank Pete Wishart for securing this debate on an issue he feels passionate about. The current system is disorderly and uncontrolled, with human traffickers having the most agency. Public confidence in the mainstream's ability to deliver meaningful change is low, yet when there is control and order, communities lean into providing sanctuary as seen in schemes like Homes for Ukraine. I refute claims that refuge rules changed overnight from permanent to temporary; it used to be a five-year grant of settlement, now it's two-and-a-half years. The Government's intention is not to make it impossible to find work but to encourage contribution through the language learning and integration process on the protected work and study route. Core protection involves a 30-month permission that allows individuals to contribute by working or studying while learning English, thus avoiding the 30-month renewal regime if they do so. Visa brakes were implemented for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, leading to increased asylum applications among students from these countries. The Government will provide protected visa routes but maintain control over terms set by Parliament rather than universities. We have brought 35,000 people from Afghanistan via safe means in recent years. Addressing values, an orderly system that closes illegal routes and opens legal ones aligns with Labour's traditions. If people are failed asylum seekers or foreign national offenders without the right to be in the country, they should be removed to restore public confidence.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.