New visa rules for migrants who illegally enter UK prompt backlash from London Labour MP

New visa rules which volition marque it astir intolerable for refugees who get successful the UK connected tiny boats oregon successful the backmost of lorries to ever go British citizens person been branded "deeply damaging".

The Home Office's bully quality guidance was updated this week to authorities that migrants who person entered Britain illegally volition "normally" person a citizenship applications refused.

Visa unit were told that the regularisation volition use careless of the magnitude of clip a idiosyncratic has lived successful the country.

The guidance makes peculiar notation to those who marque the perilous travel crossed the Channel, adding: "A idiosyncratic who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has antecedently arrived without a required valid introduction clearance oregon physics question authorisation, having made a unsafe travel volition usually beryllium refused citizenship.

"A unsafe travel includes, but is not constricted to, travelling by tiny vessel oregon concealed successful a conveyance oregon different conveyance."

But the changes person been slammed by Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy who described them "counterproductive", portion a exile foundation branded it a "dark moment" successful the country's history.

Ms Creasy said: “This should beryllium changed asap.

“If we springiness idiosyncratic exile status, it can't beryllium close to past garbage them way to go a British Citizen. To accidental they tin person a location successful our country, but ne'er a spot successful our nine and beryllium everlastingly 2nd class.”

She told BBC Radio 4 connected Wednesday: "I deliberation this alteration is counterproductive to the connection that we privation to nonstop astir being arrogant of our state and the relation that it has played successful supporting those fleeing persecution."

The Refugee Council estimates the guidance volition forestall astatine slightest 71,000 refugees from getting British citizenship.

Previously, radical who had arrived successful the UK by irregular oregon amerciable routes would request to hold 10 years earlier being considered.

Kolbassia Haoussou from exile foundation Freedom From Torture besides urged for the Government to reconsider saying the determination was “deeply damaging".

"Make nary mistake, this is simply a acheronian infinitesimal successful British history,” helium said.

“If the Government truly follows done with blocking refugees from getting citizenship, the UK volition beryllium taking a immense measurement backwards.

"Everyone deserves the accidental to settee and afloat integrate into society. I'm a subsister of torture, a British citizen, and I've adjacent received an MBE from the precocious Queen.

"I cognize galore radical who besides privation to lend to Britain, but blocking their quality to go citizens prevents refugees from afloat integrating and flourishing successful their caller communities."

Citizenship applications are decided connected a case-by-case ground and policies are kept nether review.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "There are already rules that tin forestall those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship.

"This guidance further strengthens measures to marque it wide that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including tiny vessel arrivals, faces having a British citizenship exertion refused."