PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Immigration Rules and rough sleepers (22 February 2021)

That this House is appalled by the Government’s Immigration Rules which came into effect on 1 December 2020 that make rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling someone’s right to remain in the UK; fears that those new immigration rules will push people further away from seeking support and will also make people more vulnerable to exploitation; is aware that the Government has indicated that the rough sleeping grounds for cancelling or refusing someone’s permission to be in the UK will only be used sparingly, yet is concerned that that is only a rhetorical commitment and that the scope of the grounds to refuse or cancel someone’s right to remain in the UK as set out in the Immigration Rules is very broad; is alarmed that those rules do not include protections for people who are illegally evicted from private properties; recognises that specialist organisations working in homelessness, including Crisis, have expressed concern that that will make the work of outreach teams trying to support people sleeping rough much harder, as people fear that engaging with services could put them at risk of being detained and deported; and urges the Government to scrap that cruel policy and instead work towards eradicating the scourge of rough sleeping in the UK for all people, regardless of their immigration status.

Sponsored by:
Claudia Webbe (Independent)