A letter published in the Guardian on 4 October 2026 has raised concerns regarding the Labour government's recently announced refugee resettlement routes for Afghan women and Palestinians. The author, Eleanor Luxton, questioned the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's use of language such as "compassion" and "international obligations" in light of the party's past actions.
The letter referenced the closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme on 1 July 2025 under Labour leadership. It also cited Ed Miliband's admission at the Labour conference that the party had not done enough to support the Palestinian people.
Research conducted with Afghan women living in "refugee hotels" was highlighted, indicating that a significant proportion of Afghan women and girls who arrived in British hotels after August 2021 experienced violence, were isolated from essential support services, and were evicted by the Home Office.