Sarah Teather MP: Immigration Bill is “the worst type of politics”

Sarah Teather MP

Catholic MP Sarah Teather, has criticised the Government’s Immigration Bill, saying that is represents the worst type of politics. The Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on Thursday, includes a number of changes to the immigration system including introducing an NHS health levy, landlord immigration checks and a reduction in the number of grounds for appeal against decisions taken by the Home Office.

Commenting on the Bill, Sarah Teather, Member of Parliament for Brent Central, said: “The proposals contained within the Government’s Immigration Bill represent the worst type of politics. They are designed to sound tough, but will instead divide communities while failing to deal with any of the problems that are endemic in the immigration system.

“The UK is far richer, both economically and culturally, as a result of our diverse communities and cultures. This Bill is in danger of making the UK more hostile to all migrants, and creating tension and mistrust towards anyone who looks and sounds a bit foreign.”

On the proposals to reduce the number of grounds for appeal available: “Many people who I see come into my constituency office in Brent have been waiting for a decision from the Home Office on their application for a number of years. They get lost in the overly-bureaucratic and inhumane system which time and time again is shown to produce exceptionally poor quality decisions, which is why so many initial decisions are overturned on appeal. But instead of sorting this mess out, the Government is trying to prevent people from being able to make an appeal.”

On the proposals to introduce a health levy for the NHS: “The proposals to charge temporary migrants, including students, for access to the NHS are designed to tackle a problem that the Home Office have repeatedly been unable to prove exists. International students bring so much to our universities but this levy will put off many from coming to study here. Just imagine how much it could end up costing a post-graduate student with a young family. It also completely ignores that contributions that migrants pay through the tax system and the evidence that shows migrants are less likely than their UK counterparts to receive NHS treatments.”

On the policy to require landlords to check the immigration status of potential tenants: “I do not believe it is right for landlords to be made to do the job of immigration officers and, rather than making the lives of rogue landlords harder, these plans will instead lead to more and more people being taken advantage of. I am extremely concerned that the only result of this policy will be that anyone who happens to look or sound a bit foreign will find it increasingly hard to find accommodation and will be forced into overcrowded and unsanitary housing.”