"If I may crave your indulgence for a brief moment, Mr Speaker, I thank you and your deputies for all your service this year; all House staff, particularly those who keep us safe and those who will be working over Christmas; and all Members’ staff, who will in many cases …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"I back the Minister’s comments about the effectiveness of public health on BBC Radio 4 this morning. I agree about the importance of conducting a public health campaign for this. Women for Refugee Women has surveyed women in the asylum system with no recourse to public funds. It found that …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"We are thinking of all Ukrainians today, particularly the around 2,500 who found sanctuary in Aberdeen; they will be spending Christmas worried about their friends and family who remain in Ukraine. According to the Defence Committee, the most effective way to ensure long-term security for Ukraine and the strongest possible …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
That this House has considered the potential impact of proposed asylum reforms on people with protected characteristics seeking asylum.
There have been a lot of announcements in relation to immigration policy in the year and a half since this Government came into office. There has been …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"I absolutely agree, and there was a very similar case in my constituency. There was a woman here with her young child, and it had been agreed that her husband was eligible for reunification with his family here under the ARAP scheme, but he was in hiding in Pakistan. No …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"There should be some methodology, but the Government are going the wrong way on this. They are looking to tighten up the modern slavery and trafficking regulations and make it more difficult for women to claim that they have been trafficked—even when they have. We know that there are women …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"The UK Government have said that they are looking at increasing the number of countries they have returns agreements with, so that people who have committed crimes can be sent back.
Let me talk once more about the LGBT issue. If a trans or gay refugee is here, and it …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"Thank you for chairing this debate, Dr Huq. I thank all Members for contributing.
I did not say that nobody should have to contribute—I will thank the Minister not to put words in my mouth in that regard. I do believe, however, that worthiness as a human being should not …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"Although I disagreed with the permanent ban, it is to the Secretary of State’s credit that he has been very clear about all the competing issues that he is balancing to make his decisions, and I appreciate that. There are young people who are hoping to be part of the …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech
"In terms of looking at political finances, we are supportive of the review, and I thank the Secretary of State for announcing it today. Donations made to political parties are one thing, but donations made to either candidates or politicians are another thing and can be considered slightly differently. Can …..." Kirsty Blackman - View Speech