CPF 

Policy Renewal Programme

EASTERN REGION WORKSHOP

Thursday 3  July 2025 (on Zoom)

Immigration 

(Informal Notes Without Prejudice)

Immigration

Introduction

Immigration is a big issue for many people in the U.K.  It is however a difficult subject and a minefield to tread. Clearly we are hampered by our involvement in the ECHR.

A number of past Conservative Home Office Ministers have indicated we should withdraw from the ECHR and there is an increasing number of Conservative members implying we should do that. There is opposition for a number of reasons but neither side of that argument come out into the open.

The whole strategy has been a mess for a long time. If only we could start afresh, an open debate, ignoring what is the past and present. Creating a policy that suits the U.K. 

It is difficult to make suggestions that others may feel are out of sympathy with the problems of people leaving their natural state due to war, famine, ethnic persecution, and just racial prejudice. 

Sending illegal migrants back to their country of origin may be outside our overall sympathetic generosity. On the other hand the U.K. is not in a position for everybody with some injustice to come here. We do not have the funds available to increase our population by +/- 1 million each year.

We also have to examine the way in which migrants do not integrate into our society and where large numbers of migrants live practicing their own living standards and culture as if they were living in their own original state

This Paper reflects the views of our Eastern Region Workshop held on Thursday 3 July 2025. It does not infer all the answers

Two elements – illegal and legal. Both are of concern. The whole subject is complicated.

The calls to “stop the boats” and “smash the gangs” have made no tangible difference to the numbers that are illegally entering the U.K. In fact the number of boats crossing the English Channel year on year have increased and their occupant numbers have steadily gone up beyond acceptance.

This year we have seen between January and June a 42% increase in boats and 21,000 immigrants arriving in the U.K. 

For information – illegal migrants

June 2022 – June 2023 — 44,460 arrived in the U.K. 

June 2023 – June 2024 — 31,493 arrived in the U.K. 

June 2024 – March 2025 – 38,023 arrived in the U.K. 

Recently the average immigrants in each boat has increased to 50. (The gangs are using larger boats to maximise their body turnover and cash). 

These figures only relate to detected boats crossing the channel. Other boats (or other means) may go undetected and their illegal occupants slip into our society.

In this Paper we are not going to dwell on the French position as whatever we say is most likely a waste of time (and money)

Those detected are logged in and transported to an official detention centre.. It is interesting what happens next.

Every immigrant landing in a boat once on U.K. soil can then seek asylum. After some initial checks ( including their health) they are allocated to a safe place (usually  a hotel / hostel or similar). Many have no identity papers. They are given accommodation, meals or meal vouchers, (in some cases a weekly allowance). They have access to healthcare (GP’s, Dental Care, Optician), legal aid, mental health issues and education for children. It is not certain whether their personal background information is obtained at that stage.

We question whether prior to a decision being  made regarding their status whether they should be released into the community. Cultural issues arise. Many are single young males with all the problems that entails.

Those deemed as illegal immigrants on arrival are refused access to the UK and are deported. But it appears this number is minimal 

No wonder that claiming asylum is the immigrants first choice as due to the backlog in processing applications it could be many months before their application is considered.

Even President Macron stated whilst on the State visit that the U.K. is a soft touch. We need to undertake a different approach. The one in one out as recently agreed with France will not solve this problem.

The following are unverified figures but the cost of providing migrant accommodation 2024-2025 is estimated between £1.3bn and £2.2bn. (Another unverified figure shows that each asylum seeker costs £41,000)

Our workshop made some suggestions

Suggestions

• Immigrants who come illegally (mostly by small boats)  should not be allowed –  once they reach the U.K. –  to claim asylum. Their status is an illegal migrant. They should be housed briefly in a detention centre. Minimal care provided. Then deported to a place of safety.. This would stifle the activities of the trafficking gangs. We would have to be quite strict in applying this rule 
• The place of safety for both the migrant and our society to be carefully designated – but under strict detention procedures
• Most migrants come in small boats from France and this is where the U.K. has a problem. If France will not accept them what can be done. Their living conditions in France are far from satisfactory – living in tents on the coast in so called camps. 

(State assistance to migrants living in tents in France is minimal. Court rulings sometimes force municipalities to install basic infrastructure, and (AME) offers modest medical coverage for those eligible. But food, shelter, hygiene, and financial aid are almost entirely dependent on volunteers and NGO networks. Repeated evictions and administrative hurdles further reduce access to services). 

There are however those who arrive at the channel who have a supply of cash, up to date mobiles and ability to buy new clothes. We wonder how this can be. 

We might ask why is the U.K. so generous.

• The dilemma arises when the immigrants arrive in the U.K. and cannot be deported back to France. It is suggested that this position becomes untenable especially if UK authorities take the same position as the French authorities. The easy way out has been to move these illegal migrants about the country based on their request to be treated as an asylum seeker 
• In some circumstances this has created upheaval for local residents but also for those migrants who have entered the U.K. legally.
• In order to discourage immigrants travelling in boats the U.K. should establish clearly defined “safe routes” where the immigrant can be processed. This should be made simpler and all potential opportunities made to broadcast this strategy. A charge could be levied on each applicant 
• We restate that all  immigrants arriving illegally will be deported 
• Illegal immigrants should be held in a secure detention centre (where they are not allowed to leave). They should  not be housed in a hotel. They must not have access to UK facilities such as health care (only in house in case of need facilities in the detention centre), nor education for any children. Should they be fed. 
• The only route to claim asylum in the UK MUST be through “safe asylum routes”  with conditions to be rigorously followed.
• As a deterrent illegal immigrants could be housed in structures similar to the “nightingale dormitory’s built at the time of the Covid pandemic. Or in converted MoD facilities. No assistance should be provided. The illegal migrant treated on that basis as a deterrent. There might be opposition and the U.K. Courts intervene. Many are single males but with some serious amounts of cash.
• The facilities for deportation would have to be agreed, but this where we hit on the problem. No other State wants them.
• The U.K. should initiate a system where Immigrants should only be able to claim asylum if they come through the  “safe channels”. That means an official process where they can observe the rules. The U.K. should require a fee from the asylum seekers.
• Access to Safe Routes could also include the immigrants paying to travel to a neutral country where they can be processed. This would destroy the gangs trafficking immigrants for profit. 
• Legislation could be drawn up setting out new procedures to deal with legal immigration setting out the requirements to claim asylum – (the illegal immigrant would have no rights to apply) This would be specifically under U.K. common law and allow for the exit from the ECHR
• It was noted there is a backlog in dealing with asylum applications. This is unsustainable
• We should consider putting a cap on the number of legal immigrants that can be given a visa including those agreed under individual trade agreements. That figure could be made on a unilateral basis. 
• The number of legal immigrants has reached a very high figure and it appears it has not peaked.
• A formal temporary ID should be issued which demonstrates the migrants status in the U.K. as a legal asylum seeker who arrived via a safe asylum route. By doing this we may be able to identify the undetected illegal migrant that has slipped into the U.K. 
• SHOULD we visit the discussion that all citizens of the U.K. be issued with an official ID card to identify their status and residency. (Personal details to be excluded). 
• Both the above suggestions are controversial but handled with care could avoid any challenge of potential racial action. The fear of fraud would need to be mitigated
• The ID status could include temporary residence in the U.K. for agricultural, care workers and others for a 3 – 6 – 12 month residence following due diligence by the authorities. (There would have to be a registration requirement to monitor when the visa expired. Issue here is the migrant could just slide into the over crowded environment 
• Due diligence should be processed on all immigrants issued with an ID card. Checking their background and whether  they have a criminal record.
• The system needs to be simple so that U.K. Employers know exactly the requirements for employing migrants under a strict status process. That also applies for Landlords due diligence when a legal asylum seeker wishes to rent. Since they will be on a register both employer and landlord would be able to check whether the immigrants ID was valid 
• Any person breaking immigration rules should be deported
• Any person undertaking an illegal act should be deported regardless of their position in their native country.
• Any person not given final settlement status if charged (should be confined from society and then if convicted of a crime should be deported)
• Immigrants seeking to bring in to the U.K. their family must have been given legal settlement status complying with the 10 year rule. The U.K. to set rules on what numbers and status of the dependents.

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In most cases, an immigrant seeking a UK residency can obtain a visa (also called a long-term visa or route to settlement). They must meet a minimum income requirement — though the exact amount depends on the visa type. They should only be able to seek a dependant application until after they have completed 10 years living in the U.K. contributing tax and NIC. They must qualify under a minimum salary rule, not have any convictions. Their dependants should undergo a strict due diligence process including health and criminal activity

As an example this also applies when seeking a  Family Visas (Spouse, Partner, Child of a British citizen or Settled Person)

Minimum Income Requirement 

• Now £38,700 per year – changed in early 2025.
• Some feel this figure is well below what can be justified to finance life in the U.K. with a dependant. Where multiple dependents are involved the income should relate to the needs required to finance those dependents without U.K. state benefits. State benefits should not be paid
• They must prove they can meet this income if they are  sponsoring someone.
  • They can use salary, self-employment, savings (over £16,000), or pensions. All this must be verified by access to bank accounts and HMRC due diligence