Lord German Speaks at Borders and Asylum Debate in the Lords

RAMP Associate Lord German took part in a Lords Chamber debate on Borders and Asylum yesterday, following a repeat of the Home Secretary’s statement.

Lord German said the asylum system remains under strain, with the backlog unresolved and no full plan for reform in place. He suggested faster processing to enable quicker returns for unsuccessful applicants, alongside support for those with valid claims to work, integrate, and contribute through safe and legal routes.

He raised strong concerns about the temporary closure and proposed tightening of family reunion rules, stressing that refugees are not starting from an equal position and that family reunion is vital for integration; restricting it could push more people into the hands of smugglers. He also questioned proposals to reduce the move-on period from 56 to 28 days, warning this would cause major problems for local authorities.

In addition, he sought clarity on how the proposed independent body and fast-track appeals process would be resourced to meet its targets, asking about recruitment and training for new caseworkers and safeguards to ensure fairness and avoid a rise in judicial reviews. 

He pressed the Government to guarantee proper funding for local authorities providing asylum accommodation, rather than imposing it without consultation. 

Finally, he requested more information about the UK-France returns deal, including timescales for expanding numbers beyond the very limited exchanges planned at the start, and repeated his call for a system that is both humane and efficient, rather than one that continues to fail vulnerable people.