Immigration Policy Debate

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Department: Home Office

Immigration Policy

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Monday 9th March 2026

(1 day, 10 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alex Norris Portrait Alex Norris
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At the outset of the consultation, we were very clear that there were certain non-negotiable elements that we had decided prior to the consultation, including moving to a system with a default 10 years that could be reduced to five on the basis of the people’s contribution to their community and in relation to speaking English. Within the consultation, there were also questions about transitional protections. We are looking at all those issues in the round and I do not see an inconsistency in the two positions.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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Where will we send an illegal entrant with no right to remain but whose country of origin is unsafe?

Alex Norris Portrait Alex Norris
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The right hon. Gentleman will know that this Government have removed 60,000 people with no right to be in this country—a 31% increase on our predecessors. It is not possible to effect return in every case; everybody knows that. There are certain countries to which we are unable to do so. In those cases, we are not effecting returns, but we have to have a system that has a backstop of removal. I think that is an accepted principle.