Question
I was hoping when I turned up today that I would hear the Home Secretary say that she was abandoning all the proposals around ILR. While it is positive that she has responded to the cross-party campaign on social care workers, she still has a long way to go to address the unfairness at the heart of these proposals. The un-British retrospectivity is still in place, and those who thought they had a contract with the UK will still be let down. When is she going to be positive about immigration, including its economic benefits and the value that it brings to our communities?50% point-scoring
Answer
I have literally been talking about the positive impacts of migration, including for me personally—I would not be in this country were it not for migration into this country. As for what the hon. Gentleman has to say about the ability of the Government to change the rules, no Government would be able to run an effective migration system if they followed his approach. We will not be doing that. This is a long-settled position that has been upheld by the courts, so we are fully compliant with our legal obligations. The Government have set out a fair policy for all.14% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (58/100)
The minister clearly and directly declined to abandon the Immigration Leave Rules proposals, giving reasons: that the approach would stop any government running an effective migration system, and that the position is long-settled and legally compliant. The second part of the question, about the economic and community benefits of migration and when any change would happen, was only partly answered. The reply relied on a personal anecdote and general statements about fair policy, and gave no specific benefits or timetable, so the person who asked would probably need to ask again for those details.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Home Secretary confirm that the Government is abandoning its proposals on indefinite leave to remain (ILR)? | Addressed | Direct | The minister plainly declines to abandon the ILR proposals ('We will not be doing that'), and gives reasons: the approach would stop any Government running an effective migration system, and the position is long-settled, upheld by the courts and legally compliant. |
| When will the Government be positive about immigration, including its economic benefits and the value it brings to communities? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply asserts that the minister is already talking about migration's positive impacts, but it rests on a personal anecdote and a generic 'fair policy for all' line rather than the economic benefits or community value the item names. It also never says when anything will change, so the 'when' is left unanswered. |