Lord Dubs's impassioned plea for a change in direction on asylum policy and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's departure from her role has sent shockwaves through Westminster, as Andy Burnham edges closer to becoming Prime Minister. A child refugee himself who fled Nazi persecution, the Labour peer is no stranger to the complexities of the UK's immigration system – but he is now calling for a complete overhaul.
Lord Dubs, known affectionately as 'the conscience of the Labour movement', believes that Ms Mahmood's skills would be better utilised elsewhere in government. He argues that her current approach not only fails to align with the party's values of human rights, compassion, fairness, and equality but also undermines the need for unity within Labour ranks.
The veteran peer is particularly scathing about proposed changes to 'indefinite leave to remain', which he claims would unfairly target those who arrived in good faith. He also condemns the suspension of family reunion visas and potential plans that could lead to children, including those with serious health issues, being handcuffed and deported.
Lord Dubs's own experiences as a Kindertransport survivor inform his warnings about the consequences of such policies, which he believes would leave vulnerable children 'without shelter or protection'. He urges Mr Burnham to use this 'reset moment' for Labour to adopt a new approach that balances firm border control with compassion and fairness.
The 1951 Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) obligations are at the heart of Lord Dubs's concerns, as he argues that current proposals threaten to dilute these commitments. He advocates for family reunion visas to be reinstated and for a more humane approach to asylum policy, one that prioritises the welfare of vulnerable children.