Daniel R. Hammond
@hanofdan.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Chinese Politics and Society, University of Edinburgh. Chinese politics and policy, social policy, social assistance, minimum income guarantees.
https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/daniel-hammond
https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/daniel-hammond
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
This puts those families and children at a major economic and social disadvantage. Why? To stop some coming in future? To force them to leave? No evidence either will happen. They will still come and they will still settle, but after years of scrimping compared to other families.
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
November 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This puts those families and children at a major economic and social disadvantage. Why? To stop some coming in future? To force them to leave? No evidence either will happen. They will still come and they will still settle, but after years of scrimping compared to other families.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
There’s just so much performative cruelty and stupidity in the asylum announcements that it’s hard to know where to start.
But one place to start is that if its aim is to reduce small boats crossings, it won’t work.
We’ve had 5 years of deterrent policies. They don’t work.
But one place to start is that if its aim is to reduce small boats crossings, it won’t work.
We’ve had 5 years of deterrent policies. They don’t work.
November 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
There’s just so much performative cruelty and stupidity in the asylum announcements that it’s hard to know where to start.
But one place to start is that if its aim is to reduce small boats crossings, it won’t work.
We’ve had 5 years of deterrent policies. They don’t work.
But one place to start is that if its aim is to reduce small boats crossings, it won’t work.
We’ve had 5 years of deterrent policies. They don’t work.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Really terrible news from the University of Nottingham. The idea you can have a comprehensive university without language and music is absurd. Higher education serves society and you can't have a society with imagination and purpose if the people in charge decide creativity is worth nothing.
Well this is awful news: tinyurl.com/yr65mjkx
'All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham.'
Nottingham friends: please be assured that we will join you in protesting against this decision in the strongest possible terms. Solidarity.
'All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham.'
Nottingham friends: please be assured that we will join you in protesting against this decision in the strongest possible terms. Solidarity.
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Really terrible news from the University of Nottingham. The idea you can have a comprehensive university without language and music is absurd. Higher education serves society and you can't have a society with imagination and purpose if the people in charge decide creativity is worth nothing.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
'A New Germany', the first episode of The World at War, was broadcast on this day in 1973. Produced by Jeremy Issacs and narrated by Laurence Olivier, the series (which continues to be regularly re-run worldwide) was four years in the making.
October 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
'A New Germany', the first episode of The World at War, was broadcast on this day in 1973. Produced by Jeremy Issacs and narrated by Laurence Olivier, the series (which continues to be regularly re-run worldwide) was four years in the making.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Just in case anyone is listening, please note that UK universities cannot operate successfully on the basis of continuous reduction of academic staff and academic staff pay. No amount of staff wellness sessions will change this.
October 29, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Just in case anyone is listening, please note that UK universities cannot operate successfully on the basis of continuous reduction of academic staff and academic staff pay. No amount of staff wellness sessions will change this.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
So I've been reading the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. There's some good things in there. But when it comes to universities there's very little to cheer. The situation is very tough and will get worse. The last chance to preserve what we've got has passed. Let me explain why. (1/?)
October 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
So I've been reading the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. There's some good things in there. But when it comes to universities there's very little to cheer. The situation is very tough and will get worse. The last chance to preserve what we've got has passed. Let me explain why. (1/?)
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
It’s racist, it’s extremist and it’s immoral
The right is still calling for deportations, and the government is still being cowardly about it. Also: London’s first green belt; some notes on a shark; and some news, on my next book.
jonn.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
The Conservative immigration proposals cannot be allowed to stand without a profound and widespread statement of moral condemnation inews.co.uk/opinion/tori...
October 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The Conservative immigration proposals cannot be allowed to stand without a profound and widespread statement of moral condemnation inews.co.uk/opinion/tori...
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
This is deranged and dangerous from the Conservatives, and similarly from Reform. If they could enact it, it would rip British society apart, destroy the economy & NHS, & make the UK an international pariah. Every decent politician & political journalist/commentator needs to push back hard.
The draft legislation is crackers. It would fail immediately if we stayed in the ECHR but it disappears the human rights act. if passed after that it would involve mandatory loss of ILR for up to 400,000 people + refusal of 2-3 million others, though without no credible means to identify or remove
Here Lam explicitly sets out her proposal - which is official Conservative Party policy - to deport long-standing legal permanent residents who have *ever* claimed any benefit, including the state pension or child benefit (even if the child is British), or who earn less than £39K.
October 22, 2025 at 6:36 AM
This is deranged and dangerous from the Conservatives, and similarly from Reform. If they could enact it, it would rip British society apart, destroy the economy & NHS, & make the UK an international pariah. Every decent politician & political journalist/commentator needs to push back hard.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
why did this take two fucking days though? did the Prime Minister have his notifications switched off? was he stuck in the bath? why, exactly, is this obviously true thing something that apparently needs running past the boss anyway? what is *wrong* with their comms operation?
NEW: Labour condemn Tory plan to strip people of indefinite leave to remain:
“It’s utterly grotesque that Tories want to deport people with the lawful right to be here to achieve ‘cultural coherence’.
“This policy would mean tearing families apart and ripping out our neighbours from communities."
“It’s utterly grotesque that Tories want to deport people with the lawful right to be here to achieve ‘cultural coherence’.
“This policy would mean tearing families apart and ripping out our neighbours from communities."
October 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
why did this take two fucking days though? did the Prime Minister have his notifications switched off? was he stuck in the bath? why, exactly, is this obviously true thing something that apparently needs running past the boss anyway? what is *wrong* with their comms operation?
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
The current line taken by some Conservatives is "We will rip up ILR, something no govt has ever done before, but citizenship is different". Not reassuring. Precedents matter. "We don't abide by rules previously agreed" is the precedent.Once that's set, reassurances on other rules carry little weight
October 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The current line taken by some Conservatives is "We will rip up ILR, something no govt has ever done before, but citizenship is different". Not reassuring. Precedents matter. "We don't abide by rules previously agreed" is the precedent.Once that's set, reassurances on other rules carry little weight
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Slightly confusing briefing with Badenoch's spokesman & a Tory press person on their/Katie Lam's migration plans. Here's what I could follow:
• Tory policy on revoking indefinite leave to remain is "broadly in line with what Katie said" (they "haven't seen" her idea it's extended to EU nationals) ..
• Tory policy on revoking indefinite leave to remain is "broadly in line with what Katie said" (they "haven't seen" her idea it's extended to EU nationals) ..
October 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Slightly confusing briefing with Badenoch's spokesman & a Tory press person on their/Katie Lam's migration plans. Here's what I could follow:
• Tory policy on revoking indefinite leave to remain is "broadly in line with what Katie said" (they "haven't seen" her idea it's extended to EU nationals) ..
• Tory policy on revoking indefinite leave to remain is "broadly in line with what Katie said" (they "haven't seen" her idea it's extended to EU nationals) ..
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?
October 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Reunite Families strongly reject Katie Lam’s toxic, dangerous rhetoric on deporting long-settled families. This isn’t “policy” — it’s cruelty echoing the racism history warned us against. We’ll keep fighting for compassion justice, and the right to call the UK home
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/6e05...
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/6e05...
Katie Lam: head girl, immigration hardliner — and the Tories’ new hope
Touted as a potential Tory leader, the rookie MP is a practising Christian who also has a side career in musical theatre and has written five commercial shows
www.thetimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Reunite Families strongly reject Katie Lam’s toxic, dangerous rhetoric on deporting long-settled families. This isn’t “policy” — it’s cruelty echoing the racism history warned us against. We’ll keep fighting for compassion justice, and the right to call the UK home
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/6e05...
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/6e05...
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
After eight years as The i Paper's Chief Football Correspondent, my role has been made redundant.
I'm currently freelancing. I source news and write in-depth features, interviews and analysis.
Open to any opportunities so please get in touch.
Email s.cunningham@live.co.uk.
I'm currently freelancing. I source news and write in-depth features, interviews and analysis.
Open to any opportunities so please get in touch.
Email s.cunningham@live.co.uk.
October 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM
After eight years as The i Paper's Chief Football Correspondent, my role has been made redundant.
I'm currently freelancing. I source news and write in-depth features, interviews and analysis.
Open to any opportunities so please get in touch.
Email s.cunningham@live.co.uk.
I'm currently freelancing. I source news and write in-depth features, interviews and analysis.
Open to any opportunities so please get in touch.
Email s.cunningham@live.co.uk.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
When Labour finally respond to a horrific, far right and racist policy proposal from a Tory MP, it comes with a heavy gloss of 'I get where you're coming from' instead of the outright condemnation it deserves.
“We welcome those who come to this country, legally, and give more than they take. We believe the right to stay here must not be automatic, but that those who play their part should be able to earn that right."
October 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
When Labour finally respond to a horrific, far right and racist policy proposal from a Tory MP, it comes with a heavy gloss of 'I get where you're coming from' instead of the outright condemnation it deserves.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Also this is just the sheerest nonsense from Katie Lam, bc you won’t have accessed social security unless the conditions of your stay permitted it, & if you have indefinite leave to remain, you don’t have any conditions (as to time, work, benefits) - that’s literally part of the definition of ILR 1/
Here is the clip.
- The interviewer claims not to know the policy.
- The Tory frontbencher clearly misleads with "because those are not the conditions on which you came"
- The interviewer twice sums up the policy misleadingly, to say it is much narrower than it it
bsky.app/profile/raks...
- The interviewer claims not to know the policy.
- The Tory frontbencher clearly misleads with "because those are not the conditions on which you came"
- The interviewer twice sums up the policy misleadingly, to say it is much narrower than it it
bsky.app/profile/raks...
“… need to go home…” says Katie Lam on #Peston @itvpeston.bsky.social coherently racist enough for Reform to take notes? Or recoil?
Which region of China will the Lam family go home to?
Which region of China will the Lam family go home to?
October 21, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Also this is just the sheerest nonsense from Katie Lam, bc you won’t have accessed social security unless the conditions of your stay permitted it, & if you have indefinite leave to remain, you don’t have any conditions (as to time, work, benefits) - that’s literally part of the definition of ILR 1/
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
The government is itself contemplating retrospectively changing residence rights of those already here, which would lead to some having to leave or being expelled. Not the same but also not a world away. The government is, disgracefully, not in a position to criticise.
October 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
The government is itself contemplating retrospectively changing residence rights of those already here, which would lead to some having to leave or being expelled. Not the same but also not a world away. The government is, disgracefully, not in a position to criticise.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Not good enough. When policies are proposed which threaten people’s security and future on this country journalists need to do their homework properly and hold those proposing them to account.
Peston tells Lam that she said something that he "genuinely didn't understand". "But who are these people who came legally who should leave?"
This does not look like faux naivety.
He should know the answer!
She misleads in her answer to him.
So he gives a misleading summary of her policy on air.
This does not look like faux naivety.
He should know the answer!
She misleads in her answer to him.
So he gives a misleading summary of her policy on air.
October 21, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Not good enough. When policies are proposed which threaten people’s security and future on this country journalists need to do their homework properly and hold those proposing them to account.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Honestly what is the point of a Labour government that won’t take a stand against mass revocation deportation of people with permanent settlement rights?
If you won’t stand against anything you stand for nothing.
If you won’t stand against anything you stand for nothing.
Worth saying that despite asking for more than 12 hours we’ve had nothing back from Labour on this
A Conservative MP tipped as a future party leader has been condemned for saying large numbers of legally settled families must be deported, in order to ensure the UK is mostly “culturally coherent”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
October 20, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Honestly what is the point of a Labour government that won’t take a stand against mass revocation deportation of people with permanent settlement rights?
If you won’t stand against anything you stand for nothing.
If you won’t stand against anything you stand for nothing.
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
"People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.” - @eddavey.libdems.org.uk on Conservative proposals to strip people of indefinite leave to remain & deport them
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tory MP criticised after demanding legally settled families be deported
Katie Lam said move would make UK ‘culturally coherent’ and that a large number of people ‘need to go home’
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.” - @eddavey.libdems.org.uk on Conservative proposals to strip people of indefinite leave to remain & deport them
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Daniel R. Hammond
Worth saying that despite asking for more than 12 hours we’ve had nothing back from Labour on this
A Conservative MP tipped as a future party leader has been condemned for saying large numbers of legally settled families must be deported, in order to ensure the UK is mostly “culturally coherent”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tory MP criticised after demanding legally settled families be deported
Katie Lam said move would make UK ‘culturally coherent’ and that a large number of people ‘need to go home’
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Worth saying that despite asking for more than 12 hours we’ve had nothing back from Labour on this