Blair Melville
@blairmelville.bsky.social
Human Rights and Immigration with some boats and mountains at the weekend ⛵️🗻
No surprise that migrant workers to the UK are net contributors!
We need to stop demonising and scapegoating the health and social care migrant workforce. They are doing important work all while contributing to our communities (as well as to the exchequer)
We need to stop demonising and scapegoating the health and social care migrant workforce. They are doing important work all while contributing to our communities (as well as to the exchequer)
Estimated contribution to public finances of people granted Skilled Worker or Health and Care visas in 2022/23, and their 'dependant' partners/children, from a new Migration Advisory Committee analysis www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
No surprise that migrant workers to the UK are net contributors!
We need to stop demonising and scapegoating the health and social care migrant workforce. They are doing important work all while contributing to our communities (as well as to the exchequer)
We need to stop demonising and scapegoating the health and social care migrant workforce. They are doing important work all while contributing to our communities (as well as to the exchequer)
Reposted by Blair Melville
But what if I were to cover up the obvious gender discrimination by disguising the overwhelmingly female case study as a middle-aged white man?
December 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
But what if I were to cover up the obvious gender discrimination by disguising the overwhelmingly female case study as a middle-aged white man?
Reposted by Blair Melville
Slides from a Home Office presentation for employers on “earned settlement” — note the case studies: they explicitly play the “good migrant” versus “bad migrant” narrative. Guess which category Sarah, the American, is placed in?
December 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Slides from a Home Office presentation for employers on “earned settlement” — note the case studies: they explicitly play the “good migrant” versus “bad migrant” narrative. Guess which category Sarah, the American, is placed in?
Reposted by Blair Melville
A very useful guide from @alexinlaw.bsky.social at @freemovement.bsky.social
Briefing: the implications of the “earned settlement” proposals and what they might mean in practice - Free Movement
We’ve now had a few weeks to digest the “earned settlement” policy document, which outlines the proposed changes to the settlement system ahead of the public
freemovement.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A very useful guide from @alexinlaw.bsky.social at @freemovement.bsky.social
Listening to the Today programme on BBCr4 this morning and I’m depressed
- the constant conflation of immigration and asylum and ‘illegal’ migration.
The overwhelming number of people who take up refuge in the UK just want a safe place to live and work like the rest of us!
- the constant conflation of immigration and asylum and ‘illegal’ migration.
The overwhelming number of people who take up refuge in the UK just want a safe place to live and work like the rest of us!
November 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Listening to the Today programme on BBCr4 this morning and I’m depressed
- the constant conflation of immigration and asylum and ‘illegal’ migration.
The overwhelming number of people who take up refuge in the UK just want a safe place to live and work like the rest of us!
- the constant conflation of immigration and asylum and ‘illegal’ migration.
The overwhelming number of people who take up refuge in the UK just want a safe place to live and work like the rest of us!
I know many people have been saying this for a while now, but really? This is a Labour Government?
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I know many people have been saying this for a while now, but really? This is a Labour Government?
Reposted by Blair Melville
Your regular reminder that there is absolutely nothing "hard" or "tough" about targeting the poorest, most vulnerable, and least able to defend themselves groups of people on the entire planet
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Your regular reminder that there is absolutely nothing "hard" or "tough" about targeting the poorest, most vulnerable, and least able to defend themselves groups of people on the entire planet
Aside from the sheer misery it will inflict on many people, have they thought about how to staff the asylum team?
Where will they find the resources to make more decisions and to be actively reviewing cases when they can barely clear the existing backlog?
Where will they find the resources to make more decisions and to be actively reviewing cases when they can barely clear the existing backlog?
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Aside from the sheer misery it will inflict on many people, have they thought about how to staff the asylum team?
Where will they find the resources to make more decisions and to be actively reviewing cases when they can barely clear the existing backlog?
Where will they find the resources to make more decisions and to be actively reviewing cases when they can barely clear the existing backlog?
Reposted by Blair Melville
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ it was not the optimal poll-tested message
And I did not speak out
Because I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ it was not the optimal poll-tested message
No, actually, we shouldn't just let the government violently attack people on the streets and disappear them into foreign gulags. We should try to stop them.
April 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ it was not the optimal poll-tested message
And I did not speak out
Because I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶s̶t̶ it was not the optimal poll-tested message
Reposted by Blair Melville
A reminder that, in partnership with the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust, a fully funded PhD opportunity considering private sector evictions in Scotland is now available at the @unistrathclyde.bsky.social Law School. Deadline: 2 May 2025 (with a view to starting in October 2025).
April 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A reminder that, in partnership with the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust, a fully funded PhD opportunity considering private sector evictions in Scotland is now available at the @unistrathclyde.bsky.social Law School. Deadline: 2 May 2025 (with a view to starting in October 2025).
Reposted by Blair Melville
If you have witnessed or experienced an immigration raid since July 2024, pls get in touch anonymously by emailing policy@migrantsrights.org.uk, sending a Whatsapp/Signal message to 07534 488696, or by filling in our reporting tool at www.raids.migrantsrights.org.uk
Please get in touch by 28 March.
Please get in touch by 28 March.
March 14, 2025 at 8:53 AM
If you have witnessed or experienced an immigration raid since July 2024, pls get in touch anonymously by emailing policy@migrantsrights.org.uk, sending a Whatsapp/Signal message to 07534 488696, or by filling in our reporting tool at www.raids.migrantsrights.org.uk
Please get in touch by 28 March.
Please get in touch by 28 March.
Reposted by Blair Melville
If you were listening to the Today prog this morning, you'll have heard the shadow Home Sec announcing new Conservative Party proposals to "bring to an end the era of mass low-skilled migration and clamp down on the large number of family visas currently being issued" - so, what are these proposals?
March 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
If you were listening to the Today prog this morning, you'll have heard the shadow Home Sec announcing new Conservative Party proposals to "bring to an end the era of mass low-skilled migration and clamp down on the large number of family visas currently being issued" - so, what are these proposals?
Chris Philip on #BBCR4 today says that he wants the minimum salary threshold for spouse visas to increase to £38k. This is for the partners of British citizens who happen to fall in love with people who aren’t British.
March 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Chris Philip on #BBCR4 today says that he wants the minimum salary threshold for spouse visas to increase to £38k. This is for the partners of British citizens who happen to fall in love with people who aren’t British.
So the tories are at it again targeting immigrants their families (and benefits claimants - just for good measure).
March 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
So the tories are at it again targeting immigrants their families (and benefits claimants - just for good measure).
Reposted by Blair Melville
From yesterday: Increase to court and tribunal fees from 1 April 2025 | Sonia Lenegan
Increase to court and tribunal fees from 1 April 2025 - Free Movement
The Ministry of Justice has announced increases to court and tribunal fees, to take effect for applications made on or after 1 April 2025. I have pulled out
buff.ly
March 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
From yesterday: Increase to court and tribunal fees from 1 April 2025 | Sonia Lenegan
Reposted by Blair Melville
Share this incredibly useful guide from @right-to-remain.bsky.social with everyone you can.
Knowing your rights, and how to protect others, is as important as ever as the Labour Government copies the hostile, anti-migrant tactics of the previous one.
Knowing your rights, and how to protect others, is as important as ever as the Labour Government copies the hostile, anti-migrant tactics of the previous one.
Immigration raids: your rights, and what to do
We have put together this simple blog against the backdrop of an increasingly violent and Hostile Environment towards migrants in the UK. This is particularly important in light of the recently…
buff.ly
February 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Share this incredibly useful guide from @right-to-remain.bsky.social with everyone you can.
Knowing your rights, and how to protect others, is as important as ever as the Labour Government copies the hostile, anti-migrant tactics of the previous one.
Knowing your rights, and how to protect others, is as important as ever as the Labour Government copies the hostile, anti-migrant tactics of the previous one.
Getting British citizenship for many refugees just got harder - changes to the good character guidance will block those who have ever used false documents or entered on small boats from *ever* getting citizenship
New from Free Movement: Good character guidance amended to block refugees from naturalisation | Sonia Lenegan
Good character guidance amended to block refugees from naturalisation - Free Movement
There have been some important additions to pages 50 and 51 of the Good Character guidance (a comparison of the new and old versions is here) that have the
buff.ly
February 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Getting British citizenship for many refugees just got harder - changes to the good character guidance will block those who have ever used false documents or entered on small boats from *ever* getting citizenship
It’s is not only flights back to the UK, I’ve had clients have difficulty boarding flights from the UK the UAE as their BRP did not have validity for 3 months and the eVisa was not seen as evidence
January 20, 2025 at 4:08 PM
It’s is not only flights back to the UK, I’ve had clients have difficulty boarding flights from the UK the UAE as their BRP did not have validity for 3 months and the eVisa was not seen as evidence
Reposted by Blair Melville
It’s no longer surprising, but it’s still always depressing (and shouldn’t be normalised), to see Labour asylum policy - here wrt rights to work - made up on the basis of speculation & right-wing propaganda. 🧵
January 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
It’s no longer surprising, but it’s still always depressing (and shouldn’t be normalised), to see Labour asylum policy - here wrt rights to work - made up on the basis of speculation & right-wing propaganda. 🧵
Reposted by Blair Melville
Austria has announced plans to deport Syrian migrants following the fall of the country’s dictator Bashar Assad to rebel forces after 13 years of civil war, while France, Belgium and Germany are also working to pause Syrian asylum applications.
Austria prepares to deport Syrian migrants after Assad regime falls
Belgium, Germany and Austria said they will halt Syrian asylum applications one day after rebel forces ousted the country’s dictator.
www.politico.eu
December 9, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Austria has announced plans to deport Syrian migrants following the fall of the country’s dictator Bashar Assad to rebel forces after 13 years of civil war, while France, Belgium and Germany are also working to pause Syrian asylum applications.
The new eVisa system roll out is being delayed and BRPs which say that they expire on the 31st December will now be valid until 31st March
Now all we need is every airline , all the banks, landlords and employers to be up to speed with the changes
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Now all we need is every airline , all the banks, landlords and employers to be up to speed with the changes
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
UK delays full shift to digital immigration system amid eVisa flaws
People will be allowed to use expired identity documents amid ‘real fear’ of another Windrush-style scandal
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2024 at 9:13 PM
The new eVisa system roll out is being delayed and BRPs which say that they expire on the 31st December will now be valid until 31st March
Now all we need is every airline , all the banks, landlords and employers to be up to speed with the changes
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Now all we need is every airline , all the banks, landlords and employers to be up to speed with the changes
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...