Yvette Cooper has temporarily suspended family reunion visas as she outlines her reforms to the asylum system.
The Home Secretary said: “We are bringing forward new immigration rules this week to temporarily suspend new applications under the existing dedicated refugee family reunion route, until the new framework is introduced refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else.”
She said the current application system is currently “not sustainable” and had been “designed many years ago”.
“Reforms are needed,” she said, suggesting they would include longer periods of residence in the UK until families can seek refuge.
She also said the government’s overhaul of the “broken” asylum system will contribute to ending the use of asylum hotels, an issue which has led to widespread protests over the summer.
But refugee charities have warned against the move, Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said: “Shutting off the hope of family reunification will only force more women and children to take dangerous journeys to seek sanctuary.”
Since 2014, there have been around 164,000 successful asylum applicants, with 123,800 grants given to their family and dependants.
However, the number of visas granted for family members of refugees has risen in recent months, with over 19,000 last year and 10,800 in 2025 so far.
UK Politics Live
- Yvette Cooper cracks down on applications from refugees to bring family to the UK
- Over 123,000 refugee family members have come to UK since 2014
- Asylum crackdown 'will only force more women and children to cross Channel'
- Cooper says family reunion visas are ‘not sustainable’
- Starmer says mini reshuffle intended to make government ‘more powerful’
Watch: Paying Taliban to take migrants ‘might be sensible transaction’, says Tice
20:40 , Rebecca WhittakerCooper's changes will 'push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers', Refugee Council says
20:20 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentChanges announced by Yvette Cooper to the refugee family reunion route will "push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers", a leading refugee charity has said.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, responded to the home secretary's announcement, saying: “Until now, family reunion has been one of the only safe and legal routes available that allows refugees fleeing war and persecution to be reunited with their partner and children.
“It is only for immediate family of people who have already been through the process of being recognised as refugees and overwhelmingly supports women and children – who made up nine out of ten visas granted through this route in the last year."
He added: “Far from stopping people taking dangerous journeys to cross the Channel, these changes will only push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers in an effort to reunite with loved ones.
“This is not who we are as a country – we should not be forcing children to grow up without their parents.Family reunion is a lifeline. It enables refugees to rebuild their lives, integrate more quickly, and contribute to their communities.”
Asylum crackdown 'will only force more women and children to cross Channel'
19:48 , Rebecca WhittakerSteve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: “We are forever hearing cries that refugees seeking protection should do so through official channels, but here we have the government restricting the last available safe route for women and children.
“Shutting off the hope of family reunification will only force more women and children to take dangerous journeys to seek sanctuary, including risking their lives by crossing the Channel.”
Refugees will now have to apply through the standard family scheme, which applies to British citizens. This requires them to demonstrate a minimum joint income of £29,000 per year before their foreign partner can join them in the UK.
'Blanket suspension' on refugee family reunion 'simply wrong', charity says
19:40 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentGunes Kalkan, head of campaigns at the refugee charity Safe Passage, has condemned Yvette Cooper's suspension of refugee family reunion applications as "simply wrong".
He added: "This will have disastrous consequences for the unaccompanied children and refugee families we support. Children, having already survived the horrors of war and persecution, belong with their parents.
“But this decision will leave them stuck alone and in camps, with no way to reach family or safety. We’re talking about children from conflict and high human rights abuse areas, such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran, who have been torn apart from family in the chaos.
“Without safe options, like family reunion, more people will be pushed into taking dangerous journeys to reach safety and loved ones."
'Using our flag to divide devalues it,' says Kier Starmer
19:20 , Rebecca WhittakerPrime Minister Kier Starmer has said he is “proud” of our flag in a post on X, but said they can be devalued when used to “divide”.
The widespread flying of Union and St George’s Cross flags, following an online campaign called Operation Raise the Colours, has become contentious and several local authorities have removed them from public infrastructure.
Some politicians have decried their removal, while others claim the increased number of flags is a result of xenophobia or racism.
I’m proud of our flag as a patriotic symbol of our nation, like lots of people I’ve proudly got one up at home.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 1, 2025
Using our flag to divide devalues it.
Watch: Yvette Cooper unveils solution to close every asylum hotel ‘for good’
19:00 , Rebecca WhittakerFamily reunion visas suspended amid record levels
18:40 , Rebecca WhittakerThe number of visas granted for family members of refugees has risen in recent months, with over 19,000 last year and 10,800 in 2025 so far.
The number of grants rose sharply from mid-2023, under the Conservative government.
In today’s speech, Ms Cooper warned that people-smuggling gangs were using family reunion rules to promote illegal crossings to the UK, adding that refugees were applying for the scheme sooner.
Watch: Home Secretary: 35,000 people without right to stay removed from UK under Labour
18:20 , Rebecca WhittakerHome Secretary blames Conservative government's planning for asylum hotels situation
18:00 , Rebecca WhittakerThe lack of planning by the last Conservative government has led to the current asylum hotels situation, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said.
Responding to shadow home secretary Chris Philp, she told the Commons: “I would say to the shadow home secretary, a party that wants to be in Government should have a proper plan for the whole country, not just promote a chaotic approach that ends up making it worse in lots of areas, but that actually is their record.
“The reason that we have asylum hotels in the first place is because they did no planning.”
Ms Cooper said the Conservatives in Opposition are a “worse version” of what they did in government, and had ramped up rhetoric on policies that would “make the chaos worse”.
Just 'tweaking' rules will not tackle illegal immigration, shadow home secretary says
17:50 , Rebecca Whittaker“Tweaking” rules will not be enough to tackle illegal migration, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said.
He told the Commons: “This is not just a border security crisis, it is a public safety crisis as well, and people up and down the country are furious. That is why they are protesting.
“If this Government were serious about fixing this problem, they would know that little tweaks here and there are not enough. Tweaks to Article 8 are not going to be enough.
“Tweaking the family reunion rules are not enough, returning maybe, if we are lucky, 50 people a week to France is not going to be enough.
“The only way these crossings will stop, the only way we’re going to get control of our borders back, is if everybody crossing the Channel knows they will get returned.”
He said the last Conservative government had a plan to tackle migrants coming over with the Rwanda Bill, and Article 8 of the Human Rights Act needed to be disapplied in immigration matters.
Over 123,000 refugee family members have come to UK since 2014
17:41 , Alicja Hagopian, Data CorrespondentOver the past decade, the number of people coming on the refugee family reunion route has approached the number of asylum applicants.
There have been around 164,000 successful asylum applicants over this period, with 123,800 grants given to their family and dependants.
Now, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that new applications for the refugee family reunion route will be “temporarily” suspended.
However, family members and dependants of refugees will still be able to apply in this period, under the wider family migration routes — which have stricter conditions.
We will 'seek to stir up chaos, division or hate', says Home Secretary
17:31 , Rebecca WhittakerHome Secretary Yvette Cooper concluded her statement by saying: “What we will never do it seek to stir up chaos, division or hate, because that is not who we are as a country, and that is not what Britain stands for.
“Because when we wave the Union flag, when we wave the St George’s flag, when we sing God Save The King and celebrate everything that is great about Britain and about our country, we do so with pride because of the values that our flags, our King and our country represent: togetherness, fairness and decency, respect for each other, respect for the rule of law.
“That is what our country stands for, that is the British way to fix the problems we face.”
Government will use 'legal and controlled support' to help people fleeing persecution, says Home Secretary
17:21 , Rebecca WhittakerHome Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government will use “legal and controlled support” to help people fleeing persecution.
She told the Commons: “We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine, extending the Ukraine permission extension scheme by a further 24 months, with further details to be set out in due course.
“We’re also taking immediate action to rescue children who have been seriously injured in a horrendous onslaught on civilians in Gaza so they can get the health treatment they need.
“I can confirm that the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for children and their immediate accompanying family members.
“And we have done the same for all the Chevening scholars and are in the process of doing so now for the next group of students from Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and places at UK universities so they can start their studies in autumn this year.
“And later this year, we will set out plans to establish a permanent framework for refugee students to come study in the UK, so we can help more talented young people fleeing war and persecution to find a better future alongside capped and managed ways for refugees to work here in the UK.”
Reeves sidelined as Starmer hires new economic team in surprise reshuffle
17:02 , Tom Watling
Reeves sidelined as Starmer hires new economic team in surprise reshuffle
Suspension on refugee family reunion applications will have 'devastating impact', British Red Cross says
16:53 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentResponding to news that refugee family reunion applications will be suspended, Mubeen Bhutta, director of policy at British Red Cross said the changes will mainly impact women and children who are already living in danger, such as war zones.
She added: "Today’s announcement will separate families and cut off one of the only safe and managed routes for children to seek protection. The vast majority of people who use family reunion visas are children and women – often trapped in very dangerous situations.“
“Parents who arrive in the UK tell us they cannot live their lives until they know their children are safe. We strongly urge the government not to suspend refugee family reunion, which will have a devastating impact on the lives of refugees and potentially risk more children making a dangerous journey to the UK in order to rejoin their parent.”
Starmer wants to close asylum hotels 'as quickly as possible'
16:52 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer wants to close asylum hotels “as quickly as possible”, his official spokesperson said, but declined to give a deadline.
Asked if there is a specific date, the spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has spoken about this earlier in his interviews, talked about the fact that he wants to close these hotels as quickly as possible, and the way to do that is to work through the backlog.”
The Government has committed to emptying all hotels housing migrants by the end of the parliament, which could be as late as 2029.
The spokesperson added that Sir Keir “previously made a manifesto commitment to closing them all by the end of the parliament, he spoke about obviously wanting to do that as quickly as possible”.
Epping MP urges closure of The Bell Hotel
16:49 , Tom WatlingNeil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest, has urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to close The Bell Hotel, saying the “community is in distress”.
Last week, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court interim injunction against the hotel housing asylum seekers, after the Home Office challenged the decision.
There have been protests outside the hotel for months after one of its inhabitants, a male asylum seeker, was charged with sexually assaulting a teenager. He denies the charges.
“Our community is in distress. The situation is untenable,” Mr Hudson said.
“This week the schools are back. The hotel is in the wrong place, right near a school, and many concerned parents have contacted me.
“When will the home secretary and the government listen to us address this issue and do the right and safe thing and close The Bell Hotel immediately.”
Ms Cooper reiterated her earlier remarks that the hotel, like all asylum hotels, would close, but it would be done in an “orderly” way over time.
Cooper's changes will 'push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers', Refugee Council says
16:48 , Tom WatlingChanges announced by Yvette Cooper to the refugee family reunion route will "push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers", a leading refugee charity has said.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, responded to the home secretary's announcement, saying: “Until now, family reunion has been one of the only safe and legal routes available that allows refugees fleeing war and persecution to be reunited with their partner and children. It is only for immediate family of people who have already been through the process of being recognised as refugees and overwhelmingly supports women and children – who made up nine out of ten visas granted through this route in the last year."
He added: “Far from stopping people taking dangerous journeys to cross the Channel, these changes will only push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers in an effort to reunite with loved ones.
“This is not who we are as a country – we should not be forcing children to grow up without their parents.
Family reunion is a lifeline. It enables refugees to rebuild their lives, integrate more quickly, and contribute to their communities.”
Keir Starmer defends ‘incredible’ Angela Rayner over flat purchase row
16:43 , Tom Watling
Keir Starmer defends ‘incredible’ Angela Rayner over flat purchase row
Cooper: We will continue to support those fleeing persecution
16:36 , Tom WatlingHome Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government will use “legal and controlled support” to help people fleeing persecution.
She told the Commons: “We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine, extending the Ukraine permission extension scheme by a further 24 months, with further details to be set out in due course.
“We’re also taking immediate action to rescue children who have been seriously injured in a horrendous onslaught on civilians in Gaza so they can get the health treatment they need.
“I can confirm that the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for children and their immediate accompanying family members.
“And we have done the same for all the Chevening scholars and are in the process of doing so now for the next group of students from Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and places at UK universities so they can start their studies in autumn this year.
“And later this year, we will set out plans to establish a permanent framework for refugee students to come study in the UK, so we can help more talented young people fleeing war and persecution to find a better future alongside capped and managed ways for refugees to work here in the UK.”
Home Secretary: 35,000 people without right to stay removed from UK under Labour
16:30 , Tom WatlingCooper explains how Labour plan to shut asylum hotels
16:20 , Tom WatlingYvette Cooper told MPs: “Let me turn next to the action we’re taking to ensure that every asylum hotel will be closed for good under this Government, not just by shifting individuals from hotels to other sites, but by driving down the numbers in supported accommodation overall.
“And not in a chaotic way through piecemeal court judgments, but through a controlled, managed and orderly programme, driving down inflow into the asylum system, clearing the appeals backlog, which is crucial, and continuing to increase returns.
“Within the asylum state, we are reconfiguring sites, increasing room sharing, tightening the test for accommodation, and working at pace to identify alternative, cheaper and more appropriate accommodation with other government departments and with local authorities.
“And we’re increasing standards and security and joint public safety co-operation between the police, accommodation providers and the Home Office to ensure that laws and rules are enforced.
“I understand and agree with local councils and communities who want the asylum hotels in their communities closed because we need to close all asylum hotels, and we need to do so for good, but that must be done in a controlled and orderly manner, and not through a return to the previous government’s chaos that led to the opening of hotels in the first place.”
Philp: Family reunion visa tweaks not good enough
16:18 , Tom WatlingShadow home secretary Chris Philp has said that changes to the family reunion visa scheme is not enough to fix the current system.
He says the Tories believe that no one should be allowed to stay in the UK if they enter illegally, let alone bring additional family members into the country.
He told the Commons: “This is not just a border security crisis, it is a public safety crisis as well, and people up and down the country are furious. That is why they are protesting.
“If this Government were serious about fixing this problem, they would know that little tweaks here and there are not enough. Tweaks to Article 8 are not going to be enough.
“Tweaking the family reunion rules are not enough, returning maybe, if we are lucky, 50 people a week to France is not going to be enough.
“The only way these crossings will stop, the only way we’re going to get control of our borders back, is if everybody crossing the Channel knows they will get returned.”
He said the last Conservative government had a plan to tackle migrants coming over with the Rwanda Bill, and Article 8 of the Human Rights Act needed to be disapplied in immigration matters.
Yvette Cooper unveils solution to close every asylum hotel ‘for good’
16:15 , Tom WatlingPhilp: Things are getting worse, not better
16:14 , Tom WatlingShadow home secretary Chris Philp has claimed the migrant situation in the UK is getting “worse, not better”.
“Things are not getting any better, they are getting worse,” he told the Commons.
We have quotes from Cooper's speech to suspend reunion visas
16:12 , Tom WatlingHome Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons: “We continue to believe that families staying together is important, and it’s why we will seek to prioritise family groups among the applicants to come to Britain under our new deal with France.
“But reforms are needed. So, with our asylum policy statement later this year, we will set out a new system for family migration, including looking at contribution requirements, longer periods before newly granted refugees can apply, and dedicated controlled arrangements for unaccompanied children and for those fleeing persecution who have family in the UK. And we aim to have some of those changes in place for the spring.
“But in the meantime, we do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats.
“Therefore, we are bringing forward new immigration rules this week to temporarily suspend new applications under the existing dedicated refugee family reunion route.
“Until the new framework is introduced, refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else.”
Yvette Cooper cracks down on applications from refugees to bring family to the UK
16:08 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentHome secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that she will temporarily suspend new applications from refugees wanting to bring their families to the UK.
She said that, before the pandemic, newly-granted refugees waited one or two years after their grant of protection to apply to bring their families over. However applications are now being made on average one month after refugee protection is granted, she said.
Ms Cooper said some refugees are applying for their family members to come to the UK while they are still in Home Office provided hotel accommodation. This is having an impact on council's homelessness accommodation, as refugee families are turning to local authorities for emergency housing help, she added.
Ms Cooper also said that people-smuggling gangs were using family reunion rules to promote dangerous Channel crossing journeys. The home secretary explained that the government will introduce new requirements for refugee families to show they can financially support themselves, and will introduce longer periods until they can apply. These changes will be in place by next Spring - in the meantime new family reunion applications will be suspended.
Cooper: New independent body to speed up asylum appeals
16:04 , Tom WatlingA new independent body will be created to speed up asylum appeals, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons.
She said: “We will introduce a new independent body to deal with immigration and asylum appeals – fully independent of Government, staffed by professionally trained adjudicators with safeguards to ensure high standards, but able to surge capacity as needed, to accelerate and prioritise cases, alongside new procedures to tackle repeat applications and unnecessary delays.
“We’re also increasing detention and returns capacity, including a thousand-bed expansion at Campsfield and Haslar, with the first tranche of additional beds coming online within months to support many thousands more enforced removals each year.”
Ms Cooper had earlier said in her statement: “It is the British way to do our bit alongside other countries to help those who need sanctuary, but the system has to be controlled and managed based on fair and properly enforced rules, not chaos and exploitation driven by criminal smuggler gangs.”
Cooper: Family reunion visas temporarily suspended
15:58 , Tom WatlingThe Home Secretary has temporarily suspended family reunion visas.
“We are bringing forward new immigration rules this week to temporarily suspend new applications under the existing dedicated refugee family reunion route, until the new framework is introduced refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else,” she said.
Cooper: First returns with France will begin later this month
15:56 , Tom WatlingHome Secretary Yvette Cooper said the first returns of those who come to the UK on small boats will begin “later this month”, under its deal with France.
In a statement to the Commons, she said: “In August, I signed the new treaty with France allowing us for the first time to directly return those who arrive on small boats.
“The first detentions took place the next day of people, immediately on arrival in Dover, and we expect the first returns to begin later this month.
“Applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases under consideration subject to strict security checks.
“We’ve made clear this is a pilot scheme, but the more we prove the concept at the outset, the better we will be able to develop and grow it.”
Cooper: Asylum hotels must be closed in an orderly manner
15:53 , Tom WatlingYvette Cooper has reiterated the need to close all asylum hotels “in a controlled and orderly manner”.
“We need to close all asylum hotels and we need to do so for good. But it must be done in a controlled and orderly manner,” she said.
Cooper says family reunion visas are ‘not sustainable’
15:51 , Tom WatlingHome secretary Yvette Cooper has said that refugee family reunion visas are “not sustainable” under the current model.
“Reforms are needed,” she said, suggesting they would include longer periods of residence in the UK until families can seek refuge.
Cooper begins Parliament address
15:44 , Tom WatlingHome secretary Yvette Cooper has begun her address to Parliament.
Keir Starmer accidentally calls Angela Rayner an ‘incredible prime minister’
15:40 , Tom WatlingWhat is the refugee family reunification route?
15:32 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentYvette Cooper is about to announce changes to the family reunification route for refugees, but what is this?
The safe legal route to the UK is set up for people who have refugee status in Britain. Refugees, who have had their asylum claims assessed and deemed successful, can apply for family members to join them in the UK. This is often husbands who have made difficult journeys to the UK who then apply to bring their wives and children to sanctuary.
In order to qualify, the applicant and their partner must be in a lasting relationship. This qualifies as in a marriage, civil partnership, or in a relationship for at least two years.
The couple will need to prove that they communicate regularly, support each other financially, and care for any children they have together. When applying for a child, the child must be under the age of 18.
Home secretary to address Parliament shortly
15:31 , Tom WatlingYvette Cooper is shortly about to address Parliament about reforms to the immigration system and border security.
We will bring you lines from that as they come.
Family reunion was the 'last safe available route for women and children', charity says
15:28 , Tom WatlingResponding to Yvette Cooper's upcoming announcement on changes to the refugee family reunion route, Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: "We are forever hearing cries that refugees seeking protection should do so through official channels, but here we have the government restricting the last available safe route for women and children.
"Shutting off the hope of family reunification will only force more women and children to take dangerous journeys to seek sanctuary, including risking their lives by crossing the Channel.
“This is an ill-conceived approach from a Government that won’t stand up to the rhetoric of Reform, nor the far-right hate we are witnessing on our streets, but is instead mimicking it and making things substantially worse for refugees, communities and themselves.”
Starmer backs Rayner despite tax claims
15:18 , Tom WatlingAngela Rayner is a “great story of British success”, the Prime Minister said, adding it was a “mistake” for people to brief against her or talk her down.
Sir Keir Starmer told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Angela is Deputy Prime Minister of this country, that’s an incredible achievement.
“And Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister.”
His comments come after recent reports that Ms Rayner saved £40,000 in stamp duty when buying a flat in Hove, East Sussex, after telling tax authorities it was her main home. A spokesperson for Ms Rayner previously said she paid all her taxes.
Sir Keir added: “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again.
“It’s a mistake, by the way. Angela is an incredible prime minister… Deputy Prime Minister, but what a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.
“I’m proud of that. I think we should be proud as a country that Angela Rayner is our Deputy Prime Minister, and that, by the way, will give I don’t know how many working-class children, particularly girls, a real sense of aspiration.”
Starmer warned he must shut migrant hotels or face losing Labour voters to Reform
15:00 , Tom Watling
Starmer warned he must shut migrant hotels or face losing voters to Reform
Farage offering 'fanciful' solutions on migration, says Starmer
14:40 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentNigel Farage is offering “fanciful arrangements that are just not going to work” on migration, the prime minister has said, accusing Reform UK of representing “the politics of grievance”.
Speaking about the push to close down asylum hotels in Britain, Sir Keir Starmer told BBC 5Live: “The choice here is between an orderly sensible way of fixing a problem we inherited from the Tories, or fanciful arrangements that are just not going to work.
“Nigel Farage and Reform are just the politics of grievance. They feed on grievance. They don’t want the problem solved because they’ve got no reason to exist if the problems are solved. The politics of grievance simply puts forward unworkable fanciful ideas that just aren’t going to work.”
He added: “When it comes to the asylum hotels, I want them emptied, I've been really clear about that. I completely understand why people are so concerned about it. The only way to empty them is an orderly, systematic working through of the cases as quickly as possible and then returning those people who should not be here.”
Starmer says national flags are ‘patriotic’
14:23 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer has described national flags as “patriotic” but added that some have been using the St George’s Cross for “divisive purposes” that “devalue” it.
His comments come amid councils banning flags for fear of unrest during anti-migrant protests.
“I am very encouraging of flags and I think they are patriotic and a symbol of our nation,” he said.
He added, however, that he does not think the flags should be “devalued”.
He said: “I don’t think they should be devalued and belittled, and I think sometimes when they’re used purely for divisive purposes it actually devalues the flag. I don’t want to see that."I'm proud of our flag - I sit in front of our flag and I'm very very proud to do so.”
Starmer says he wants to bring deadline to close asylum hotels forwards
14:19 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer has said he wants to bring forward a deadline to close all asylum hotels.
The current Labour plan is to have all the hotels closed by the end of the current Parliament.
But Sir Keir has said he is keen to bring that deadline forward, though he has not gone into detail about when that might be.
Starmer says mini reshuffle intended to make government ‘more powerful’
14:15 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer says today’s changes to positions in his team are about making it “more powerful to drive through the changes we need”.
He told the BBC: “I want to go further and faster and I am frustrated.”
Starmer has confidence in Rayner despite criticism over flat
14:14 , Tom WatlingThe Prime Minister has confidence in Angela Rayner, No 10 has said, as criticism continues over her purchase of an £800,000 flat in Hove.
Asked if Sir Keir had confidence in his deputy, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Yes, the Prime Minister works closely with the Deputy Prime Minister … on delivering on the public’s priorities.
“There is a court order which restricts her from providing further information, which she’s urgently working on rectifying in the interests of public transparency.”
The spokesman rejected a suggestion that Darren Jones, who has been appointed to the new ministerial role of chief secretary to the Prime Minister, would be a de facto deputy prime minister.
Government not looking at leaving ECHR, says Downing Street
14:03 , Tom WatlingMinisters are not looking at leaving a major human rights agreement or suspending how it applies in UK law to crack down on illegal migration, Downing Street has said.
Asked whether the Government would consider leaving the ECHR as it seeks to grapple with migration, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “As we said last week, this is one of the first governments that’s actually set out plans to take action on the ECHR through the plans that the Home Secretary will reiterate again in her statement to the house on tightening the application of article eight.
“This will set out new reforms so that it is Parliament rather than ad hoc court decisions that determines who can stay in this country.”
Article eight of the agreement, the right to family life, has been used during court cases to justify illegal migrants remaining in the UK.
The spokesman added the Government “will be bringing forward new legislation on tightening the application of article eight”, adding: “The Government has been clear that Britain will remain a member of the ECHR and that shutting ourselves off from the international stage will make it harder, not easier, to return people, and you do not strike international agreements by tearing up international agreements.”
Asked if ministers were considering suspending elements of the treaty as it applies to UK law, the spokesman replied: “That’s not what we’re looking at. We’re looking at, as the Home Secretary will reiterate this afternoon, the action that we’re taking to tighten the application of article eight, bringing forward new legislation.”
Even Reform voters now want to unpick this one Brexit measure, shock poll reveals
13:44 , Tom Watling
Even Reform voters now want to unpick this one Brexit measure, shock poll reveals
