Round-up: Immigration Context Since Our Last Issue

As we predicted, the debate has sharpened.

The Illegal Migration Bill has sustained 20 amendments by the House of Lords and rising. The Court of Appeal rejected by majority the lawfulness of the flagship Rwanda policy as contrary to article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, based on the risk of mistreatment, although the Government is confident of overturning this at the Supreme Court.

Government figures lay bare the sheer extent of net migration and loss of control since Brexit. Home Office statistics showing record annual net migration of 606,000 coincided with a highly critical National Audit Office report on the asylum system. The still-fresh memory of 2019's "taking back control of our borders" rhetoric (and manifesto pledge) collides with 2023's reality: a surge in dangerous illegal small boat crossings, a lengthening asylum backlog and a stretched public purse blocking much needed investment in the immigration system. One commentator points out