Conservatives propose removing judges from asylum appeals, refugee groups criticize
11 reported
Refugee groups and lawyers have criticized Conservative proposals to strip judges of their powers to rule on asylum seekers’ appeals against deportations, describing the plan as an attack on justice and equality under the law. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said in a speech on Tuesday that a Conservative government would quit the European convention on human rights and abolish the judicial tribunal system used by claimants to appeal removal. Immigration decisions would instead be made by the Home Office with a quick internal appeal, and legal aid for all immigration cases would be scrapped. The policy has drawn criticism from human rights advocates, including Freedom from Torture, the Refugee Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association. Philp criticized the judiciary, accusing some members of working with open border campaigners and highlighting specific cases he said showed decisions that fly in the face of common sense. He said the vast majority of people arriving in the UK illegally would not be allowed to make an asylum claim, but declined to go as far as Reform UK, which has said it would ignore the principle that guarantees no person should be returned to a territory where their life or freedom would be threatened.
What’s reported
Chris Philp, shadow home secretary, said a Conservative government would quit the European convention on human rights and abolish the judicial tribunal system for asylum appeals.
Immigration decisions would be made by the Home Office with a quick internal appeal, and legal aid for all immigration cases would be scrapped.
Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture, called the proposals an attack on the concept of justice and equality under the law.
Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said the proposals would remove democratic safeguards.
Mark Evans, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said scrapping immigration tribunals would remove all independent oversight.
The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association accused Philp of fostering a climate of hostility towards lawyers and the judiciary.
Philp criticized the judiciary, highlighting a judge who granted a Palestinian family the right to live in the UK through a scheme meant for Ukrainian refugees, and another judge who allowed an Albanian burglar with 50 convictions to stay in the UK.
Philp said the vast majority of people arriving in the UK illegally would not be allowed to make an asylum claim.
Philp declined to go as far as Reform UK, which has said it would ignore the principle that guarantees no person should be returned to a territory where their life or freedom would be threatened.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is replacing the two-tier tribunal system with a single independent appeals body to fast-track cases.
Reform UK is proposing a law that would prevent the Home Office, immigration tribunals and higher courts from considering asylum claims for anyone who has entered the UK via illegal routes.
Key figures
Chris Philp, shadow home secretary
Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture
Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council
Mark Evans, president of the Law Society of England and Wales
Shabana Mahmood, home secretary
Sources: The Guardian
