Posts

Posted on

LGBTQI+ people in immigration detention

Early Day Motion 809 tabled 24 February 2025: LGBTQI+ people in immigration detention tabled by Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House welcomes the ongoing review of the Home Office’s Adults at risk in immigration detention policy; notes that LGBTQI+ people face heightened levels of harassment, discrimination, abuse, and physical and sexual violence in immigration detention; recognises that the bullying of and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in detention can re-traumatise those who have fled persecution; believes that immigration detention is costly and punitive, and that cheaper and more humane alternatives to detention exist; further welcomes the community-based Alternative to Detention pilots undertaken by the Home Office and supports their wider expansion; calls on the Government to include being gay, lesbian, bisexual or queer in the Adults at risk in immigration detention policies indicators of risk and to remove the categorisation of vulnerability based on evidence levels; and supports the greater use of community-based alternatives to detention.

Please ask your MP to consider supporting this EDM – see the list of signatories here: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/63175

Posted on

QARN next meetings

QARN meetings: next planned meeting dates: on Zoom on 5 April;

5 July – this will also be our AGM on Zoom and in person at Harrogate Quaker Meeting House 12a Queen Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5PP;

and 18 October; and 10 January 2026.

We usually meet quarterly using Zoom and all Quakers are welcome. We plan to start at 10.30am to manage the technical aspects of a Zoom meeting, falling quiet at around 10.45am, and beginning business at 11am; and we aim to end around 12.30pm. The meeting link will  be available to those who receive our emails, but for other people, please contact us via info@qarn.org.uk giving your name, and the Quaker Meeting to which you are attached. Thank you.

Continue reading “QARN next meetings”
Posted on

QARN Leaflets: Download them here

8 February 2024: Please note that in our leaflet: ‘QARN – What do Quakers hope for, after the 2024 General Election‘, we mention a model letter for MPs. We have instead produced a crib sheet to highlight the concerns raised in the leaflet, in the hope that people can use this to write to/ speak with prospective MPs or wherever it is useful.

QARN – What do Quakers hope for, after the 2024 General Election – leaflets you can download and print off:

Continue reading “QARN Leaflets: Download them here”
Posted on

Bridge to Nowhere: UK security strategy in the ruins of Atlantis

6 March 2025: Rethinking Security: Bridge to Nowhere: UK security strategy in the ruins of Atlantis

As Western security alliances fragment, Richard Reeve charts the implications for the UK’s most fundamental strategic assumptions, and makes the case for ‘thinking beyond the unthinkable’ in the government’s next National Security Strategy.

While Ukraine has acutely felt its vulnerability since 2014, only in the last month has the precarity of Europe’s position become startlingly clear. Having already laid claim to Canada, Greenland and Gaza, this past month Trump and Vance have attacked and undermined European democracies, dubbed Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’, and grasped at his country’s mineral wealth while unilaterally seeking to end the Russia-Ukraine war on Moscow’s terms. With Trump burying America’s closest alliances beneath his clear contempt for multilateralism, international law, and liberalism in all its forms, by 23 February Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz was pledging “to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA”.

Continue reading “Bridge to Nowhere: UK security strategy in the ruins of Atlantis”
Posted on

Charities and faith leaders urge reversal of refugee citizenship ban

QARN in good company …

4 March 2025: The Tablet: Charities and faith leaders urge reversal of refugee citizenship ban

Organised by the Refugee Council, the letter to the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, received 149 signatories from across the refugee, migrant and children’s sectors, including Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network and Islamic Relief UK.

Nearly 150 charities and faith leaders have challenged new government rules which effectively ban tens of thousands of refugees from ever becoming British citizens. This change affects applications for British citizenship submitted on or after 10 February this year by people who arrived in the UK by irregular routes.

It means that anyone who has entered the UK via a small boat, or by means such as hiding in a vehicle, will normally be refused citizenship, regardless of the time that has passed.

The letter of 16 February highlighted that “over generations, refugees who had to risk their lives because there wasn’t a safe way to reach the UK have become proud British citizens in many professions including as doctors, entrepreneurs and also politicians representing their communities”.

Continue reading “Charities and faith leaders urge reversal of refugee citizenship ban”
Posted on

Appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – John Tuckett

17 February 2025: Appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

The Home Affairs Select Committee has interviewed the Government’s choice for Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. Full information is available at the link below, but here is the ‘Conclusion’ of HASC:

Conclusion

12. Mr Tuckett demonstrated significant experience of senior leadership in the public sector. We agree with the advisory assessment panel that Mr Tuckett meets the criteria for the position of Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

13. That said, Mr Tuckett resides in Finland, and told us he travels to the UK for work as required. To operate effectively we believe that the ICIBI needs to spend a significant proportion of their time in London, or conducting inspections across the UK. We are also concerned about the reputational risk this creates. Mr Tuckett said he would be willing to work in London five days a week if necessary. If appointed, it will be for Mr Tuckett to decide on his precise working patterns, but we would expect the majority of his working time to be spent in London, or on inspections.

14. In addition, Mr Tuckett repeatedly highlighted his intention to work collaboratively with the Home Office, but was less reflective about how he would challenge Ministers and senior officials when required. In the previous Parliament there were difficulties in the relationship between the Home Office and ICIBI—particularly when it came to the publication of reports submitted by the ICIBI. It will be essential, if Mr Tuckett is appointed as ICIBI, that he demonstrates his independence and ability to challenge the Home Office—both privately and publicly—when necessary. Mr Tuckett may also wish to reflect more on the public facing aspects of the role of the ICIBI, in improving levels of public trust.

Continue reading “Appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – John Tuckett”
Posted on

Child Safeguarding Failures at Border Force Short-Term Holding Sites

25 February 2025: EIN: Child Safeguarding Failures at Border Force Short-Term Holding Sites

HMI Prisons conducted an inspection of the UK’s five short-term holding facilities (STHFs) at the France-UK border during a visit in November 2024. The STHFs are located in Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkirk, and are managed on behalf of the Home Office by Care and Custody, a division of the Mitie Group. They are used by Border Force to detain travellers in French territory pending a decision to admit, grant leave to enter or refuse entry to the UK.

The inspection revealed a mixed picture of ongoing challenges and failures amid some improvements.

Inspectors identified nine key concerns, five of which were deemed priorities requiring immediate attention by leaders and managers. These included the failure to make necessary safeguarding referrals, the lack of systematic data collation to improve outcomes, weak governance of the use of force by Border Force staff, poor physical conditions at the Coquelles facilities, and longstanding problems with phone and radio signals that undermined communication and use of professional interpretation.

Read more: EIN, https://shorturl.at/VGC0N

Posted on

Government urged to reverse decision to close off citizenship to people arriving irregularly

18 February 2025: Quakers The Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN) has criticised new Home Office guidance that makes it even more difficult for refugees to become British citizens.

Last week the government updated the “good character” guidance which immigration staff use to assess whether people applying for citizenship should have their application approved or denied.

The main change is the addition of the following sentence:

“Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused.”

The updated guidance adds that people “arriving without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”. Travelling by small boat or being concealed in a vehicle are cited as examples of a dangerous journey.

Before this change, refugees who had arrived ‘irregularly’ would need to wait 10 years before being considered for naturalisation. A citizenship application currently costs £1630 and there is no right appeal.

Continue reading “Government urged to reverse decision to close off citizenship to people arriving irregularly”
Posted on

Over 100 charities and faith leaders unite against refugee citizenship ban

17 February 2025: QARN has signed this letter: Over 100 charities and faith leaders unite against refugee citizenship ban

Well over 100 charities and faith leaders have come together in an urgent call against the Government’s decision to effectively ban tens of thousands of refugees from ever becoming British citizens.

Orchestrated by the Refugee Council, the letter to the Home Secretary has been signed by 148 signatories from across the refugee, migrant and children’s sectors, but also faith leaders including rabbis, church leaders and the heads of various trade organisations.

Continue reading “Over 100 charities and faith leaders unite against refugee citizenship ban”
Posted on

Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

Left to die!

17 February 2025: BBC: Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

UK Special Forces command rejected resettlement applications from more than 2,000 Afghan commandos who had shown credible evidence of service in units that fought alongside the SAS and SBS, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed for the first time.

UK Special Forces officers appear to have rejected every application from a former Afghan commando referred to them for sponsorship, despite the Afghan units having fought with the British on life-threatening missions against the Taliban.

Continue reading “Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms”
Posted on

2025 Letter to Meetings from Friends World Committee for Consultation – FWCC

10 February 2025: Love your neighbour as yourself

Dear Friend, Greetings from the World Office of the Friends World Committee for Consultation. Grace and peace to you.

This is a sad time for FWCC with the recent passing of our clerk, Simon Lamb (Ireland Yearly Meeting). Esther Mombo (Highland Yearly Meeting) will now ably serve as clerk for the remainder of 2025. 

This is also an anxious time for the world. Still I hold faith that the Light shines in the dark, and the darkness has not overcome it. This will be the case for as long as we each seek God’s will for our lives, and seek to unite with it. 

This year World Quaker Day (5 October) will have the theme “Love Your Neighbour”, taking as its guiding scripture Galatians 5:14: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’”. 

Continue reading “2025 Letter to Meetings from Friends World Committee for Consultation – FWCC”