Jon Featonby
@jonfeatonby.bsky.social
I do refugee and asylum policy at the Refugee Council, so most likely a lot of the posts will be about that.
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Can anyone who thinks the new settlement rules could reduce a "pull fsctor" explain why the 2022 Nationality And Borders Act (only temporary protection if come without permission) and 2023 Illegal Migration Act (can't claim asylum at all if unauthorised) didn't stop the boats/reduce the flow
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Can anyone who thinks the new settlement rules could reduce a "pull fsctor" explain why the 2022 Nationality And Borders Act (only temporary protection if come without permission) and 2023 Illegal Migration Act (can't claim asylum at all if unauthorised) didn't stop the boats/reduce the flow
In an interview with The Times, the Home Secretary has said that refugees who arrived irregularly in the UK will have to wait 20 years before the can qualify for settlement, with their refugee status reviewed every 30 months. 20 years. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In an interview with The Times, the Home Secretary has said that refugees who arrived irregularly in the UK will have to wait 20 years before the can qualify for settlement, with their refugee status reviewed every 30 months. 20 years. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Is there a Home Secretary who, since 2005, *hasn’t* “introduced” safe return reviews for refugees? Other than Grant Shapps, who only had a few hours. Re-announcing an old, existing and totally pointless policy is very, very tired.
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Is there a Home Secretary who, since 2005, *hasn’t* “introduced” safe return reviews for refugees? Other than Grant Shapps, who only had a few hours. Re-announcing an old, existing and totally pointless policy is very, very tired.
Reposted by Jon Featonby
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Refugees from 7 decades gather to commemorate 70 years of refugee in protection in the UK
YouTube video by Refugee Council
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
It is certainly demonstrably untrue that Britain is "the destination of choice" for asylum seekers. The Home Office data proves that it is not.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
November 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
It is certainly demonstrably untrue that Britain is "the destination of choice" for asylum seekers. The Home Office data proves that it is not.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Assuming a right of appeal comes with these decisions, an already strained tribunal would likely face a significant increase in caseload. I have cases 18+ months in the tribunal system at the moment.
November 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Assuming a right of appeal comes with these decisions, an already strained tribunal would likely face a significant increase in caseload. I have cases 18+ months in the tribunal system at the moment.
This won’t stop people seeking protection in the UK. It will make it harder for refugees to rebuild their lives, feel secure and contribute to their communities. It will create a load more work for the Home Office, reviewing claims every three years.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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 15, 2025 at 7:55 AM
This won’t stop people seeking protection in the UK. It will make it harder for refugees to rebuild their lives, feel secure and contribute to their communities. It will create a load more work for the Home Office, reviewing claims every three years.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Leaving those who flee persecution or their kids in limbo- either when making a claim or when they try to rebuild lives- is not just cruel. It’s counterproductive to integration & costly to all.
Asylum reform needs to be both effective & ethical. And those of us not frightened to fight for it.
Asylum reform needs to be both effective & ethical. And those of us not frightened to fight for it.
November 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Leaving those who flee persecution or their kids in limbo- either when making a claim or when they try to rebuild lives- is not just cruel. It’s counterproductive to integration & costly to all.
Asylum reform needs to be both effective & ethical. And those of us not frightened to fight for it.
Asylum reform needs to be both effective & ethical. And those of us not frightened to fight for it.
Reposted by Jon Featonby
People who have been persecuted, tortured or seen family members killed in brutal wars are not "asylum shopping."
As our CEO told @thetimes.com, refugees don’t compare asylum systems before running for their lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
As our CEO told @thetimes.com, refugees don’t compare asylum systems before running for their lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood’s radical reforms to halt ‘asylum shoppers’
Shabana Mahmood will announce Denmark-style plans to increase deportations and reduce pull factors to the UK
www.thetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
People who have been persecuted, tortured or seen family members killed in brutal wars are not "asylum shopping."
As our CEO told @thetimes.com, refugees don’t compare asylum systems before running for their lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
As our CEO told @thetimes.com, refugees don’t compare asylum systems before running for their lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Also curious to know if anyone has a source for this. I'm seeing it in virtually every news item on Denmark and asylum.
Lots of claims in the press over the last few days that Denmark returns 95% of people refused asylum- anyone found a source for that which isn’t a UK media story? The Danish Returns Agency stats don’t seem to have been updated since March 2023 eng.hjemst.dk/figures-and-...
Latest figures for returns of foreign nationals
eng.hjemst.dk
November 14, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Also curious to know if anyone has a source for this. I'm seeing it in virtually every news item on Denmark and asylum.
Lots of claims in the press over the last few days that Denmark returns 95% of people refused asylum- anyone found a source for that which isn’t a UK media story? The Danish Returns Agency stats don’t seem to have been updated since March 2023 eng.hjemst.dk/figures-and-...
Latest figures for returns of foreign nationals
eng.hjemst.dk
November 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Lots of claims in the press over the last few days that Denmark returns 95% of people refused asylum- anyone found a source for that which isn’t a UK media story? The Danish Returns Agency stats don’t seem to have been updated since March 2023 eng.hjemst.dk/figures-and-...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Labour government will propose changes to the asylum system, on grounds it is 'excessively generous'.
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
Home secretary to tackle UK's 'excessive generosity' with sweeping immigration reforms
In a statement to MPs on Monday, Shabana Mahmood is expected to tighten up the rules to allow for more deportations, and reduce the "pull factors" that attract migrants to the UK.
news.sky.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Labour government will propose changes to the asylum system, on grounds it is 'excessively generous'.
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
The upcoming changes to the asylum system, which are all about putting refugees off from coming to the UK. are being sold as “the most radical” since the Second World War.”Presumably that’s referring to the signing of the Refugee Convention and recognising the importance of the rights of refugees….
November 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The upcoming changes to the asylum system, which are all about putting refugees off from coming to the UK. are being sold as “the most radical” since the Second World War.”Presumably that’s referring to the signing of the Refugee Convention and recognising the importance of the rights of refugees….
The Home Office have published the 2024 Asylum Support Rates Review - 5 months after the changes came into effect assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6915e0...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The Home Office have published the 2024 Asylum Support Rates Review - 5 months after the changes came into effect assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6915e0...
Alongside the media briefings ahead of the asylum policy announcement that seems to be coming next week, the Home Office have again published ad hoc returns stats - www.gov.uk/government/p.... Amazing how they can do that but have been unable to publish asylum appeal stats for over two years.
Returns from the UK from 1 March 2023 to 31 October 2025
www.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Alongside the media briefings ahead of the asylum policy announcement that seems to be coming next week, the Home Office have again published ad hoc returns stats - www.gov.uk/government/p.... Amazing how they can do that but have been unable to publish asylum appeal stats for over two years.
Reposted by Jon Featonby
The government may have been successful in this case, but they still have a problem on their hands. Hotels are not an appropriate long-term solution for housing people seeking asylum. Nor is warehousing people in military barracks or other large sites. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Epping hotel must continue housing asylum seekers, judge rules
A council has lost its legal battle with the government in a landmark High Court ruling.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The government may have been successful in this case, but they still have a problem on their hands. Hotels are not an appropriate long-term solution for housing people seeking asylum. Nor is warehousing people in military barracks or other large sites. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Here's the judgment from the full hearing on the use of the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation. Epping Forest unsuccessful in their attempt to prevent the hotel's continued use to accommodate people seeking asylum www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Here's the judgment from the full hearing on the use of the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation. Epping Forest unsuccessful in their attempt to prevent the hotel's continued use to accommodate people seeking asylum www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Large accommodation sites are not a viable or humane solution, as we told The Times.
These plans are extremely costly and logistically complex.
They will further isolate people away from communities and fail to address the real issues facing the asylum system.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
These plans are extremely costly and logistically complex.
They will further isolate people away from communities and fail to address the real issues facing the asylum system.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Home Office earmarks sites to house up to 10,000 migrants
Shabana Mahmood is planning a major shake-up of the immigration system, looking to Denmark’s tight asylum controls for inspiration
www.thetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Large accommodation sites are not a viable or humane solution, as we told The Times.
These plans are extremely costly and logistically complex.
They will further isolate people away from communities and fail to address the real issues facing the asylum system.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
These plans are extremely costly and logistically complex.
They will further isolate people away from communities and fail to address the real issues facing the asylum system.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
The Home Office could do their bit by making the move-on period for newly recognised refugees 56 days. Since the 56 day pilot was “paused”, the return to 28 days is simply not long enough for people to find new accommodation.
The government is to hold a homelessness summit as it faces calls to step up its urgency in tackling rough sleeping
Charities have expressed concern that momentum within Whitehall to tackle the issue seems to have fallen off since Angela Rayner resigned from Cabinet, reports @nadinebh.bsky.social
Charities have expressed concern that momentum within Whitehall to tackle the issue seems to have fallen off since Angela Rayner resigned from Cabinet, reports @nadinebh.bsky.social
Government To Hold Homelessness Summit As Sector Calls For More Urgency
The government is being urged to step up its efforts to reduce homelessness as it prepares to host a summit on tackling rough sleeping.
www.politicshome.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The Home Office could do their bit by making the move-on period for newly recognised refugees 56 days. Since the 56 day pilot was “paused”, the return to 28 days is simply not long enough for people to find new accommodation.
Good question from @libdemdaisy.bsky.social on Syrians waiting for a settlement decision. They were paused last Dec, as were asylum claims. Asylum claims are being processed now but not those for ILR - the Home Office can't say how many are impacted questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Good question from @libdemdaisy.bsky.social on Syrians waiting for a settlement decision. They were paused last Dec, as were asylum claims. Asylum claims are being processed now but not those for ILR - the Home Office can't say how many are impacted questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
Baroness Lister is introducing her amendment on the move-on period now. Unlikely to be pushed to a vote, but hopefully will get some update from the Minister on what the Government's plans and when they'll published the evaluation of the 56 day pilot www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
November 5, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Baroness Lister is introducing her amendment on the move-on period now. Unlikely to be pushed to a vote, but hopefully will get some update from the Minister on what the Government's plans and when they'll published the evaluation of the 56 day pilot www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Reposted by Jon Featonby
Report stage of the Border Security Bill continues in the Lords today. Amendments likely to be debated include one from Baroness Lister extending the move-on period for refugees to 56 days and @alfdubs.bsky.social's amendment on refugee family reunion for children bills.parliament.uk/publications...
bills.parliament.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Report stage of the Border Security Bill continues in the Lords today. Amendments likely to be debated include one from Baroness Lister extending the move-on period for refugees to 56 days and @alfdubs.bsky.social's amendment on refugee family reunion for children bills.parliament.uk/publications...
The Government just lost a vote on the Border Security Bill. It was a conservative amendment requiring the collection of data on overseas students who have had their visas revoked because of a criminal conviction. The Lib Dems abstained so it passed 161 to 144
November 5, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Government just lost a vote on the Border Security Bill. It was a conservative amendment requiring the collection of data on overseas students who have had their visas revoked because of a criminal conviction. The Lib Dems abstained so it passed 161 to 144
Report stage of the Border Security Bill continues in the Lords today. Amendments likely to be debated include one from Baroness Lister extending the move-on period for refugees to 56 days and @alfdubs.bsky.social's amendment on refugee family reunion for children bills.parliament.uk/publications...
bills.parliament.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Report stage of the Border Security Bill continues in the Lords today. Amendments likely to be debated include one from Baroness Lister extending the move-on period for refugees to 56 days and @alfdubs.bsky.social's amendment on refugee family reunion for children bills.parliament.uk/publications...
Two months after the Government paused refugee family reunion, Lord Kerr has written for @politicshome.bsky.social about an amendment led by @alfdubs.bsky.social seeking to ensure that refugee children can continue to be reunited with family members in the UK www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Refugee families in the UK must have a safe route to reunite with a lost child
Lord Dubs' amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill would address the heartbreaking choices faced by parents separated from th...
www.politicshome.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Two months after the Government paused refugee family reunion, Lord Kerr has written for @politicshome.bsky.social about an amendment led by @alfdubs.bsky.social seeking to ensure that refugee children can continue to be reunited with family members in the UK www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...