Luke Piper
@lukepiper.bsky.social
Solicitor. Head of Immigration at the Work Rights Centre. All things U.K. immigration law / policy mainly. Yorkshireman in Bristol.
Judgment handed down in the Epping Hotel case (that filled the news cycle for days). Perhaps the most striking paragraph:
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Judgment handed down in the Epping Hotel case (that filled the news cycle for days). Perhaps the most striking paragraph:
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
A bill, presented by the Shadow Home Secretary no less, doesn't appear to have been read/understood by the official team of the Tories.
October 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A bill, presented by the Shadow Home Secretary no less, doesn't appear to have been read/understood by the official team of the Tories.
This is their projection from the (mini) impact assessment in the explanatory notes of the rules changes. Not sure of source and there is the promise of a fuller impact assessment of the White Paper totally in the future...
October 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This is their projection from the (mini) impact assessment in the explanatory notes of the rules changes. Not sure of source and there is the promise of a fuller impact assessment of the White Paper totally in the future...
I know they keep flip flopping on this, but this is the minister in charge of the brief...
October 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I know they keep flip flopping on this, but this is the minister in charge of the brief...
Most people with visas in the UK have no recourse to public funds. This includes child benefit www.gov.uk/government/p...
September 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Most people with visas in the UK have no recourse to public funds. This includes child benefit www.gov.uk/government/p...
Interesting. A system the government claims will combat undocumented migration will not be for compulsory use. But having a status will be. Suggests maybe the main value is in the intelligence gathered rather than the checks performed.
September 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Interesting. A system the government claims will combat undocumented migration will not be for compulsory use. But having a status will be. Suggests maybe the main value is in the intelligence gathered rather than the checks performed.
I did some further tests. We have gone many steps backwards. Non-existent cases, parts of the rules that have never been, simple misunderstandings and so much more delusion. Worst part, it doubles down if you repeatedly challenge it... until eventually it caves...
August 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I did some further tests. We have gone many steps backwards. Non-existent cases, parts of the rules that have never been, simple misunderstandings and so much more delusion. Worst part, it doubles down if you repeatedly challenge it... until eventually it caves...
Looks like he's been reading @samfr.bsky.social latest piece in Observer observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
August 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Looks like he's been reading @samfr.bsky.social latest piece in Observer observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
An employer trying to pass off people working 7 days a week with no pay and the promise of £5.50 p/h as "volunteering" ends in a sizeable civil penalty being upheld. I was struck/not shocked that it doesn't appear to have progressed to any modern slavery action. Unsurprising but instructive.
July 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
An employer trying to pass off people working 7 days a week with no pay and the promise of £5.50 p/h as "volunteering" ends in a sizeable civil penalty being upheld. I was struck/not shocked that it doesn't appear to have progressed to any modern slavery action. Unsurprising but instructive.
The gov's thesis is the economy is too reliant on overseas workers. The MAC looked at overseas recruitment in IT/engineering sector. It's detailed (still making my way through it), for a quick insight, this helps to understand how political the white paper was. www.gov.uk/government/p...
May 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The gov's thesis is the economy is too reliant on overseas workers. The MAC looked at overseas recruitment in IT/engineering sector. It's detailed (still making my way through it), for a quick insight, this helps to understand how political the white paper was. www.gov.uk/government/p...
Worth remembering that Youth Mobility Scheme visas to come to the UK are not cheap. Including Immigration Health Surcharge, costs come to around £2k. Plus maintenance requirements to hold at least £2530 in an account. This may go someway to explain why not many young people apply.
May 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Worth remembering that Youth Mobility Scheme visas to come to the UK are not cheap. Including Immigration Health Surcharge, costs come to around £2k. Plus maintenance requirements to hold at least £2530 in an account. This may go someway to explain why not many young people apply.
I'd need to listen to the interview, but if this is right it is ill-judged by Khan. Going after "recent wave" of immigrants is still dehumanising and problematic. I don't think people will be reassured by this.
May 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I'd need to listen to the interview, but if this is right it is ill-judged by Khan. Going after "recent wave" of immigrants is still dehumanising and problematic. I don't think people will be reassured by this.
An excellent point well made
May 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
An excellent point well made
I really don't see why it was necessary to use this sort of language. Why dehumanise people like this other than to politically signal? Awful and very disappointing.
May 12, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I really don't see why it was necessary to use this sort of language. Why dehumanise people like this other than to politically signal? Awful and very disappointing.
Cheap labour? Courtesy of @jdportes.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Cheap labour? Courtesy of @jdportes.bsky.social
"Temporary visas" seems to be the root of the problem. That being said, even a basic question to chat GPT produces better answers than what is widely circulated / discussed
May 7, 2025 at 6:48 AM
"Temporary visas" seems to be the root of the problem. That being said, even a basic question to chat GPT produces better answers than what is widely circulated / discussed
There is a legal nuance that has to be understood to get to why this ended up as a "human rights claim" with the Ukraine scheme as a vehicle. The HO did not resist that the app. was a human rights claim that came with a right of appeal. There was no challenge to the format of the claim.
February 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
There is a legal nuance that has to be understood to get to why this ended up as a "human rights claim" with the Ukraine scheme as a vehicle. The HO did not resist that the app. was a human rights claim that came with a right of appeal. There was no challenge to the format of the claim.
I can't read the telegraph piece, but LBC's reporting is missing some key points in the tribunal's decision. The Home Office provided no evidence of what they assert about "floodgates" being opened. This case was a specific case on human rights grounds based on family life.
February 12, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I can't read the telegraph piece, but LBC's reporting is missing some key points in the tribunal's decision. The Home Office provided no evidence of what they assert about "floodgates" being opened. This case was a specific case on human rights grounds based on family life.
Plenty to get to grips with and enjoy in the MAC's annual review. This graph seems particularly relevant. There is no obvious link between skills shortage and use of skilled worker route. compare social workers and IT business analysts.
full report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
full report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 17, 2024 at 11:28 AM
Plenty to get to grips with and enjoy in the MAC's annual review. This graph seems particularly relevant. There is no obvious link between skills shortage and use of skilled worker route. compare social workers and IT business analysts.
full report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
full report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Statement due today in the Commons on eVisas. I think we can expect confirmation of the reports in the media on delays to the roll out. Hopefully we'll get some deeper understanding on how this is all going to work
December 4, 2024 at 8:38 AM
Statement due today in the Commons on eVisas. I think we can expect confirmation of the reports in the media on delays to the roll out. Hopefully we'll get some deeper understanding on how this is all going to work
Lady "woke" Penelope
December 3, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Lady "woke" Penelope
A month to go until digital status fully replaces biometric cards. The minister in charge is due to give a statement in the Commons. Lots of concerns remain for those still to make the transition.
December 2, 2024 at 8:12 AM
A month to go until digital status fully replaces biometric cards. The minister in charge is due to give a statement in the Commons. Lots of concerns remain for those still to make the transition.
The previous IMA chair was endorsed by the Justice Committee and they sought various assurances. You can see them here: committees.parliament.uk/committee/10... and his letter to the committee here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...
November 26, 2024 at 5:16 PM
The previous IMA chair was endorsed by the Justice Committee and they sought various assurances. You can see them here: committees.parliament.uk/committee/10... and his letter to the committee here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...
These cases are not isolated and the policy is forever changing. You can find it here: www.gov.uk/government/p...
I don't see how having a pending valid application with the EUSS should keep you from being in the UK. The Withdrawal Agreement is pretty clear at least to me. 18(3)
I don't see how having a pending valid application with the EUSS should keep you from being in the UK. The Withdrawal Agreement is pretty clear at least to me. 18(3)
November 12, 2024 at 7:52 AM
These cases are not isolated and the policy is forever changing. You can find it here: www.gov.uk/government/p...
I don't see how having a pending valid application with the EUSS should keep you from being in the UK. The Withdrawal Agreement is pretty clear at least to me. 18(3)
I don't see how having a pending valid application with the EUSS should keep you from being in the UK. The Withdrawal Agreement is pretty clear at least to me. 18(3)