🗺️This evening at #Lab25 | From safe routes to settled lives: what is Labour’s approach to humanitarian pathways? 17:00–18:15 - Arena Room Dee, ACC Liverpool Speakers: 👉 @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social 👉 Frank Sharry 👉 Mubeen Bhutta 👉 Abdulrahman Bdiwi Chaired by @marleymorris.bsky.social

Interesting point on digital ID here by @cjmckinney.bsky.social

Have Reform been asked if forcing all foreign nationals with settled status to apply for a new temporary status really does mean renewing on & tearing up the UK/EU citizens agreements after Brexit? I would exoect/hope they would quickly exempt EU settled status from this

Bold 'control and compassion' approach can reduce small boat numbers. '“The new Home Secretary needs to seize the initiative on small boats with a real-world plan that is bold enough to have an impact but founded on hard evidence of what works'. www.britishfuture.org/bold-control...

A classroom of children dies every day in Gaza. Yet since the war started in October 2023, only 80 children have been granted visas to come to the UK. ✏️ @amreenqureshi.bsky.social writes about the need for a Gaza Family Visa Scheme 👇 www.opendemocracy.net/en/uk-gaza-f...

New Home Office figures today reveal a more complex picture on asylum than often assumed. The increase in asylum applications hides two distinct trends on asylum in recent years. Yes there has been an increase in small boats. But also a rise in applications from people originally arriving on visas

There is now also caseworker guidance, setting out the prioritisation process: • Stage 1: high-grant and high-volume nationalities • Stage 2: connection to the UK • Stage 3: random selection of Expression of Interest application Connection to the UK means having previously been lawfully in the UK.

Thoughtful and insightful new piece on national identity and cohesion by my colleague @parth0.bsky.social for the FT

The Southport riots were not just a moment of disorder, they were a warning. When shared spaces disappear, people turn inward and become isolated. To resist division, we must rebuild places where people meet and find common ground. Read more at ippr.org/articles/places-to-come-together

Tackling small boat crossings means more than just going after smugglers. The government must also offer safe and legal alternatives so people aren’t forced to risk their lives crossing the Channel. @marleymorris.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk

New stats from DWP show just under 84% of people on Universal Credit are UK citizens. Of the remainder, most are on the EU settlement scheme. Otherwise, only tiny numbers are on UC without being settled in the UK, primarily because they have no recourse to public funds.

🔔OUT TODAY🔔 Our new report presents UK-wide evidence to the Independent Commission on Community & Cohesion It finds a troubling powder keg of low political trust, polarisation, online vulnerability and cost of living concerns that risk sparking into further unrest if left unaddressed

Excited to have launched our latest report today on Universal Opportunity. It’s clear that the UK has a problem with social mobility and young people are paying a high price. We call for a series of recommendations so that every young person can build a decent life.

New immigration rules today reveal increase in general salary threshold for Skilled Worker route will be £41,700, up from £38,700 previously. www.gov.uk/government/p...

New immigration reforms include an interim Temporary Shortage List, covering occupations below degree-level which govt consider important for its industrial strategy. It's an interesting list, including lab technicians, authors, fashion designers, business sales executives, builders and decorators.

The trade strategy out today risks getting lost in the news agenda, but it actually reads v well (especially for a govt strategy!) There's a recognition that a rethink of trade policy is needed in a rapidly changing geopolitical context, where protectionism is resurgent www.gov.uk/government/p...

Today’s industrial strategy made some clear strategic choices for the future direction of the UK economy. @ippr.org found that there are opportunities for the UK in three key clean technology industries, all of which are featured in the strategy 1/8

🤝| NEW REPORT: The government has an opportunity to turn the tide on child poverty. Our joint roadmap with @changingrealities.bsky.social‬ & @cpaguk.bsky.social‬ sets out what a serious strategy must include. Shaped by lived experience, grounded in policy evidence. www.ippr.org/articles/get... (1/3)

3 weeks after the immigration white paper, MPs have been unable to secure any more info on issues like - when is the consultation? - what criteria would there be for < 10 years? (Would that be 5 years?) - what % might be 5/10 years? - when might this change come in? - Would it be phased in? Etc

New @ippr.org analysis on govt plan to extend qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years. - Around 1.7m people already in UK could be affected. - Evidence says restricting settlement could inhibit integration and earnings. - Public do not support 10 year wait. www.ippr.org/articles/not...

The immigratiion stats include updated inadmissibility figures for the first time in a while. This is the process that was supposed to replace Dublin system. It has been pointless. Since the start of 2021 over 100,000 claims have been considered as potentially inadmissible with 33 people removed.

Net migration is falling, the job now is about balance - the government must consider how it manages numbers without harming the economy or public services. @marleymorris.bsky.social‬ responds to today's migration figures. Read more here: www.ippr.org/media-office...

Net migration has fallen sharply as expected - down to 431,000 in 2024, a 50% fall from 2023. This is driven by: - Tighter scrutiny of care visa sponsors. - Stopping students and care workers from bringing dependants. - Higher salary thresholds. - Rising student emigration.

New net migration figures, published by ONS tomorrow at 9.30am, are certain to show a big fall in numbers, probably by over 250k. But new polling by @focaldata.bsky.social for @britishfuture.bsky.social finds this will surprise 90% of the public, most of whom are expecting numbers to go up. [1/6]

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

I was surprised to see in today's ONS figures that UK goods exports suddenly rose 3.5% in Q1/25. Then I found this was almost entirely driven by a surge in UK aluminium exports to the US ahead of Trump's tariffs. This alone pushed UK GDP growth by ~0.2 ppts (out of 0.7 ppts total in Q1). Amazing.

📣 OUT NOW – Asylum Management Centres: A new approach to tackle small boat crossings FGF report proposes new asylum centres in France to reduce boat arrivals. ✍️ Beth Gardiner-Smith, Snr Associate & fmr Yvette Cooper advisor & Emily Graham, Associate www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/asy...

Brand new data on visa holders' earnings: → Skilled worker visa holders earning median £56.6k → Big variation in earnings by industry: lowest in hospitality, highest in IT/finance → Family of British citizens/residents had median £20k, varying by nationality but not as much as for work visas 🧵

Immigration white paper a shake-up of nearly every part of the system. Headline thoughts: - Govt raising skills threshold for Skilled Worker visa back to graduate level jobs. According to govt assessment, this is the policy with biggest impact on numbers. Hospitality likely to be most affected.

Today's immigration white paper is the biggest shake-up since Brexit. There are things to welcome, risks and concerns: ✅ More support for skills ⚠️ Scrapping care worker visas ❗ Longer settlement times 🖊️ Read @marleymorris.bsky.social's full response here: www.ippr.org/media-office...

UK immigration debate needs to drop the numbers game. - Labour's task is balancing public appetite for control with the party's other policy goals My Financial Times op-ed preview of the white paper is online here (for those who have FT access) and in the paper tomorrow. www.ft.com/content/0e1f...

Yvette Cooper just announced that social care visas will be closed to applicants from outside UK. As we argued @ippr.bsky.social last week, given care worker shortage, closing this route will require a robust transition plan, including boosting conditions and pay www.ippr.org/articles/thr...

The US trade deal shows the UK government played its hand well—holding firm on policies like the digital services tax, instead compromising with tariff reductions on products like ethanol. 🖊️ @marleymorris.bsky.social responds to the deal 👇

New work visa data show little change in application numbers between March and April. Health and care apps have settled at 1.7k per month, around half the level of non-healthcare applications (main apps only). Quite the change from 2023, when there were around 13,000 H&C applications per month!

The lesson from the India trade deal is that, in the face of complex trade-offs, the government will need to find compromise if it wants to deepen its economic and strategic relationships. 🖊️ @marleymorris.bsky.social writes for @lbc.co.uk 👇 www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...

The UK-India trade deal shows that as Trump's tariffs sow global confusion, being the grown-ups in the room can turn uncertainty into opportunity, says @marleymorris.bsky.social 👇

An @ippr.bsky.social analysis of the immigration white paper policy options: calls for the government to introduce an immigration plan to make coherent choices, manage migration impacts, defend positive contributions & promote integration + citizenship www.ippr.org/articles/thr...

🚨 | NEW BLOG: With the immigration white paper on the cusp of publication, @marleymorris.bsky.social sets out how the government can thread the needle—balancing control, growth, and fairness. www.ippr.org/articles/thr...

Thanks to everyone who attended this morning's event on trade! Special thanks to the speakers: 👉 @liambyrnemp.bsky.social 👉 Vicky Pryce 👉 @johnalty1.bsky.social 👉 @marleymorris.bsky.social 👉 Lizzy Burden

The asylum accommodation system is in urgent need of reform. It’s costing far too much while failing to provide people fleeing war and persecution with the safe, clean environments they need. 📺 @lucyhbmort.bsky.social speaking to Home Affairs Committee 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJVF...

Our new @ippr.bsky.social report finds over a third of children in poverty are in families with non-UK parents. The child poverty strategy is an opportunity to address the drivers of poverty for these children, including the 'no recourse to public funds' condition. www.ippr.org/articles/hid...

⏰ | NEW REPORT: No child should grow up in hardship due to their parents’ immigration status, but nearly half of children in the UK with parents born abroad are living in poverty. @amreenqureshi.bsky.social and @marleymorris.bsky.social explore the solutions 👇

New figures from Home Office today with some striking figures on asylum: - Asylum applications for 2024 are highest on record. - Decisions have doubled in final quarter of 2024 compared to quarter before. - Asylum backlog slowly coming down (7% fall between Sep and Dec 2024).

The border bill will bring clarity to the law, and order to the asylum system, says @marleymorris.bsky.social. The bill focuses on operational measures, but to address the small boats crisis, the gov will also need to collaborate with European partners & provide alternative safe routes.

New from Free Movement: What is in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill? | Colin Yeo

"As the UK’s closest and most significant trade partner, the EU should be the top priority for the government’s new trade strategy" says IPPR's @marleymorris.bsky.social 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

New report on trade strategy out today from us @ippr.bsky.social We argue the government needs a new trade strategy focused on: - Green, inclusive growth - Alignment with the UK's geopolitical priorities - Strengthening economic resilience in key sectors

🚨 BIG NEWS from me. So excited to be appointed as Director at IPPR, one of the most influential Westminster policy factories, at this incredibly important - but treacherous - time for progressive politics. We have a big job to do but the most talented people I know to do it.

Growing momentum within govt to decentralise asylum accommodation, ending national private contracts. Times reports that Angela Rayner is pushing for mayors and local authorities to take control of asylum accommodation, referencing recent @ippr.bsky.social report. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

New Home Office figures show that between 2023 and 2024 there was a: - 80% fall in health and care main visas - 59% fall in health and care dependants - 84% fall in student dependants. Major impacts from restrictions on dependants and stricter enforcement of care route www.gov.uk/government/s...