Ilona Pinter 🧡
@ilonapin.bsky.social
Researcher #FamilyFinances @uofglasgow.bsky.social & #ChildPovMig @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social PhD @lsesocialpolicy.bsky.social #childrights #asylum #immigration #NRPF #poverty #inequality Lover of strangers & islands https://linktr.ee/ypseekingsafety
Pinned
Ilona Pinter 🧡
@ilonapin.bsky.social
· Oct 20
Learning is an essential need
Recent public narratives around asylum-seeking have focused on mostly men arriving by small boats and staying in Home Office commissioned hotels. However, what is the experience of the children and fa...
cpag.org.uk
The reality for children and families living in deep poverty while receiving Home Office Asylum Support gets little attention. My article for @cpaguk.bsky.social Poverty Journal - 'Learning is an essential need' - looks at what this means for children's education cpag.org.uk/news/learnin...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Pulling up the drawbridge’: Alf Dubs criticises Shabana Mahmood’s plans for child refugees
Exclusive: Labour peer, who came to UK as a refugee, says some ministers try to show they won’t ‘just do things because of their background’
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
Over 300,000 children already living in the UK could face 5–10 extra years before they can settle permanently.
Changing the rules mid-journey will likely increase child poverty. Latest from us 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
Changing the rules mid-journey will likely increase child poverty. Latest from us 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
February 9, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Over 300,000 children already living in the UK could face 5–10 extra years before they can settle permanently.
Changing the rules mid-journey will likely increase child poverty. Latest from us 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
Changing the rules mid-journey will likely increase child poverty. Latest from us 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
🚨NEW BLOG: Home Office plans could double the settlement wait from 5 to 10 years or more for people already living in the UK. Moving the goalposts mid-journey risks harming integration and increasing child poverty🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 AM
🚨NEW BLOG: Home Office plans could double the settlement wait from 5 to 10 years or more for people already living in the UK. Moving the goalposts mid-journey risks harming integration and increasing child poverty🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
Over 300,000 more children already living in the UK could face settlement routes of 10 years plus under Labour's new 'earned settlement' reforms targeting low income migrant workers
See new analysis by @ippr.org
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
See new analysis by @ippr.org
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Over 300,000 more children already living in the UK could face settlement routes of 10 years plus under Labour's new 'earned settlement' reforms targeting low income migrant workers
See new analysis by @ippr.org
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
See new analysis by @ippr.org
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
The Home Office tweet here - referring to asylum seekers legally here and legally supported by the government as “illegal migrants” - is a deliberate attempt to stir up resentment and racial hatred.
I can’t see how else you describe it.
I can’t see how else you describe it.
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
The Home Office tweet here - referring to asylum seekers legally here and legally supported by the government as “illegal migrants” - is a deliberate attempt to stir up resentment and racial hatred.
I can’t see how else you describe it.
I can’t see how else you describe it.
I mean it's only a matter of time before a woman without access to cash support living in an asylum hotel support goes into labour and needs to get to hospital. Irresponsible & dangerous policy change.
An abhorrent policy which inevitably leads to people seeking asylum being denied necessary medical support.
People seeking asylum don't receive enough financial support to pay for taxis, or often public transport, themselves, but still need to travel to appointments 1/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
People seeking asylum don't receive enough financial support to pay for taxis, or often public transport, themselves, but still need to travel to appointments 1/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ban on asylum seekers using taxis for medical appointments comes into force
It comes after a BBC investigation which showed people travelling long distances at high cost.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 9:22 AM
I mean it's only a matter of time before a woman without access to cash support living in an asylum hotel support goes into labour and needs to get to hospital. Irresponsible & dangerous policy change.
The penalties on those accessing benefits (which will invariably affect low income families and those in need more) are especially pernicious & create a dangerous precedent for those who need help.
February 3, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The penalties on those accessing benefits (which will invariably affect low income families and those in need more) are especially pernicious & create a dangerous precedent for those who need help.
My written evidence to the HASC focused on children & families & the likelihood that proposed reforms will push more children into poverty or keep them there & increasing material deprivation through ongoing fees rather than investment in children's needs committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
committees.parliament.uk
February 3, 2026 at 9:05 AM
My written evidence to the HASC focused on children & families & the likelihood that proposed reforms will push more children into poverty or keep them there & increasing material deprivation through ongoing fees rather than investment in children's needs committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
Hopefully more on this today at the oral evidence session focused on children and young people as part of the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry on routes to settlement: committees.parliament.uk/work/9389/ro...
February 3, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Hopefully more on this today at the oral evidence session focused on children and young people as part of the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry on routes to settlement: committees.parliament.uk/work/9389/ro...
Despite the good quality of this debate, there's a lack of consideration given to the proposed penalties for access to benefits, which are likely to punish individuals and families unevenly. Families with children & those in need will be discouraged from accessing support.
Encouraging to see so many MPs raise concerns about the gov's earned settlement reforms & refugee reforms that will inflict harm to children & families especially those on low-income, ppl in need & marginalised groups & pushing more into poverty...
February 2, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Despite the good quality of this debate, there's a lack of consideration given to the proposed penalties for access to benefits, which are likely to punish individuals and families unevenly. Families with children & those in need will be discouraged from accessing support.
MP quoting from his constituent - a migrant worker: 'we are needed but never welcomed' parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Westminster Hall
parliamentlive.tv
February 2, 2026 at 4:55 PM
MP quoting from his constituent - a migrant worker: 'we are needed but never welcomed' parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Encouraging to see so many MPs raise concerns about the gov's earned settlement reforms & refugee reforms that will inflict harm to children & families especially those on low-income, ppl in need & marginalised groups & pushing more into poverty...
February 2, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Encouraging to see so many MPs raise concerns about the gov's earned settlement reforms & refugee reforms that will inflict harm to children & families especially those on low-income, ppl in need & marginalised groups & pushing more into poverty...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
Useful resource for anyone submitting a response to Earned Settlement proposals from perspective of refugees - Home Office research on refugee mental health & access to employment: highlights barriers caused by mental ill health & need for e.g. benefits & secure housing www.gov.uk/government/p...
Refugee mental health and employment
www.gov.uk
February 2, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Useful resource for anyone submitting a response to Earned Settlement proposals from perspective of refugees - Home Office research on refugee mental health & access to employment: highlights barriers caused by mental ill health & need for e.g. benefits & secure housing www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
Hong Kong migrants to the UK, 5 years on: we present preliminary findings from Wave 2 of our @ukri.org funded panel survey.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...
www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...
Hong Kong BN(O) Migrants Panel Survey Wave 2 Result Seminar
Discover Wave 1 & 2 findings of the BN(O) Panel Survey on 11 Feb 2026. Panels on community and research findings. Join us for insights!
www.eventbrite.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Hong Kong migrants to the UK, 5 years on: we present preliminary findings from Wave 2 of our @ukri.org funded panel survey.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...
www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
‘All Scottish children need extra help, not just babies’
The Scottish Child Payment increase for babies is welcome, but costs of childhood do not end when they turn one, writes @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social and Ilona Pinter for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
The Scottish Child Payment increase for babies is welcome, but costs of childhood do not end when they turn one, writes @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social and Ilona Pinter for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
All Scottish children need extra help, not just babies
EVERY day, around 125 babies are born in Scotland. Each new life represents a new beginning but also significant, and often scary, changes for their…
www.thenational.scot
January 28, 2026 at 8:55 AM
‘All Scottish children need extra help, not just babies’
The Scottish Child Payment increase for babies is welcome, but costs of childhood do not end when they turn one, writes @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social and Ilona Pinter for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
The Scottish Child Payment increase for babies is welcome, but costs of childhood do not end when they turn one, writes @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social and Ilona Pinter for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
This is today! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Still time to register for next week's #IdentitiesEvent!
Investigating Social Change: Migratory Stratifications as a Fresh Analytical Tool
28 Jan, Online
In collaboration w/ University of Glasgow Social Anthropology & Migration
www.eventbrite.co.uk...
@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
Investigating Social Change: Migratory Stratifications as a Fresh Analytical Tool
28 Jan, Online
In collaboration w/ University of Glasgow Social Anthropology & Migration
www.eventbrite.co.uk...
@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 8:37 AM
This is today! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
The data shows us that children suffer the highest rates of poverty within the different sections of the population.
📈 At the time the Labour government came to power, there were 4.5 million children in poverty, up 600,000 on pre-pandemic levels.
This is a damning statistic.
📈 At the time the Labour government came to power, there were 4.5 million children in poverty, up 600,000 on pre-pandemic levels.
This is a damning statistic.
January 27, 2026 at 7:54 AM
The data shows us that children suffer the highest rates of poverty within the different sections of the population.
📈 At the time the Labour government came to power, there were 4.5 million children in poverty, up 600,000 on pre-pandemic levels.
This is a damning statistic.
📈 At the time the Labour government came to power, there were 4.5 million children in poverty, up 600,000 on pre-pandemic levels.
This is a damning statistic.
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
✍️ Are you conducting research, or have first-hand experience of border control? Want to share your perspective with the wider public? Write for us! We welcome contributions from practitioners, academics and people with lived experience.
More info & how to submit ➡️ blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
More info & how to submit ➡️ blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
January 26, 2026 at 11:59 AM
✍️ Are you conducting research, or have first-hand experience of border control? Want to share your perspective with the wider public? Write for us! We welcome contributions from practitioners, academics and people with lived experience.
More info & how to submit ➡️ blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
More info & how to submit ➡️ blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
She's not alone of course. Labour have promised to ramp up forced removals, including of children & families. As we're seeing in the US, it's impossible to do mass removals non-violently & the bigger the operation, the more violence we're likely to see.
January 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM
She's not alone of course. Labour have promised to ramp up forced removals, including of children & families. As we're seeing in the US, it's impossible to do mass removals non-violently & the bigger the operation, the more violence we're likely to see.
Listening to Badenoch this morning on DiDs about her politics & the importance of freedom, it's hard not to think of her pledge to import an ICE-style removals force esp with what's happening in the US. Not something she was asked about on DiD of course but is THIS what she means by freedom?
Minneapolis protester as he's being brutalized by feds: "You're gonna have to kill me! You're gonna have to kill me! I've done nothing wrong! My name is Matthew James! I'm a US citizen! You're gonna kill me! Is that what you want?" (You can hear his wife screaming)
January 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Listening to Badenoch this morning on DiDs about her politics & the importance of freedom, it's hard not to think of her pledge to import an ICE-style removals force esp with what's happening in the US. Not something she was asked about on DiD of course but is THIS what she means by freedom?
Reposted by Ilona Pinter 🧡
There is a huge volume of submissions, reflecting how important, controversial and IMO vindictive and damaging these proposals are. Linked below
Good ones from @ippr.org, @ilonapin.bsky.social, @nandosigona.bsky.social & many others [2/3]
committees.parliament.uk/committee/83...
Good ones from @ippr.org, @ilonapin.bsky.social, @nandosigona.bsky.social & many others [2/3]
committees.parliament.uk/committee/83...
Home Affairs Committee - Written evidence - Committees - UK Parliament
Written evidence submission publications for Home Affairs Committee.
committees.parliament.uk
January 22, 2026 at 7:31 PM
There is a huge volume of submissions, reflecting how important, controversial and IMO vindictive and damaging these proposals are. Linked below
Good ones from @ippr.org, @ilonapin.bsky.social, @nandosigona.bsky.social & many others [2/3]
committees.parliament.uk/committee/83...
Good ones from @ippr.org, @ilonapin.bsky.social, @nandosigona.bsky.social & many others [2/3]
committees.parliament.uk/committee/83...
'Not one, not two, but 80 cleaners at Great Ormond Street Hospital have won a landmark legal case after the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled they were subjected to indirect racial discrimination over pay and working conditions.'
www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/exclusive-...
www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/exclusive-...
Exclusive | Great Ormond Street Hospital cleaners win landmark racial discrimination ruling
Tribunal finds Black cleaners were kept on worse pay and conditions than other NHS staff
www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 6:49 AM
'Not one, not two, but 80 cleaners at Great Ormond Street Hospital have won a landmark legal case after the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled they were subjected to indirect racial discrimination over pay and working conditions.'
www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/exclusive-...
www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/exclusive-...
Full article: www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
All Scottish children need extra help, not just babies
EVERY day, around 125 babies are born in Scotland. Each new life represents a new beginning but also significant, and often scary, changes for their…
www.thenational.scot
January 21, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Full article: www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
As politicians and their advisers consider what pledges to make in these manifestos, they should think of the 125 babies being born in Scotland today, and the opportunity they have to make sure every one of them can have the very best life possible, and not just in their first year.
January 21, 2026 at 11:34 AM
As politicians and their advisers consider what pledges to make in these manifestos, they should think of the 125 babies being born in Scotland today, and the opportunity they have to make sure every one of them can have the very best life possible, and not just in their first year.
These are crucial next steps, which will hopefully feature in many of the parties’ manifestos for the May elections.
January 21, 2026 at 11:34 AM
These are crucial next steps, which will hopefully feature in many of the parties’ manifestos for the May elections.