In other news

'Legendary' housing solicitor Giles Peaker dies after short illness Prominent legal blogger was also one of the architects of landmark legislation that ensured rented homes were fit for human habitation.

Very sad news. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/legenda...

Home Office could face hundreds of claims over asylum families in single rooms Judge in case of two families housed for years in single hotel rooms says they should have been moved within three months

"Judge in case of two families housed for years in single hotel rooms says they should have been moved within three monthsThe Home Office could face legal action from hundreds of asylum-seeking families stuck in single rooms in hotels after a judge criticised the “extraordinarily…"

— The Guardian

Ye... I dread to think how many letters they've sent out like this and my mind went there too.

same as it ever was to be fair

Can't blame people for thinking we're a bit nuts because I'm basically saying "the authority in this land is wrong, listen to little old me".

A great result. We've supported a number of clients facing this sort of unrealistic behaviour.

This paragraph in the judgment is a familiar experience with Home Office decision making in this context and other cases involving vulnerable people.

You can imagine the conversation we're having with the client... I know the Home Office says this but...

excellent piece of litigation. Well done to all those involved @dpglaw.co.uk @tupldn.bsky.social and all those barristers who I couldn't find on here.

This sort of thing is very irritating. The Home Office are telling people that they WILL be able to apply for settlement after 10 years (this is from a grant under the current 10 year route). Totally irresponsible given the Earned Settlement proposal is a near certainty.

Please donate what you can to this fund. I work closely with Haringey Migrant Support Centre. They do fantastic and important work supporting vulnerable migrants. There are often hidden costs in complex cases that people need support with. This fund goes along way! localgiving.org/fundraising/...

BBC migration coverage: Review finds no consistent bias but risks to impartiality A review of the BBC's coverage of migration suggests the corporation should explore stories in greater detail.

BBC editorial staff should re-read their immigration review

The corporation struggles to cover well stuff that is not politically contested or controversial

It should cover controversial issues but it risks reinforcing major public misperceptions on key issues

www.bbc.co.uk/news/enterta...

Third Daily Mail sting solicitor cleared of misconduct All three solicitors accused by the Daily Mail of offering to help an undercover reporter concoct false asylum claims have now been cleared of misconduct.

Perhaps surprisingly, a similar investigation from the Daily Mail did not lead to a prosecution. www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/...

My god. Essential, horrifying reporting here.

Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds The BBC exposes a shadow industry charging migrants thousands of pounds to help them cheat the asylum system.

Disgusting reporting by BBC using a tiny number of cases to suggest widespread abuse of a system which routinely denies LGBTQIA+ individuals asylum and forces them back into environments of persecution. This article massively distorts the reality of the situation. 1/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review: a comprehensive improvement plan (accessible version)

Re-reading the Home Office's response to the Lessons Learned Review (especially Theme 3 'Robust and Inclusive Policymaking') is instructive. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Too automatic... If you consider onerous rules to qualify, no right of appeal and a whopping price tag (north of £3k per person) 'automatic'.

Mahmood’s migration changes will deliver fraction of claimed savings, data suggests Exclusive: Analysis of government figures indicates public finances will gain £600m not £10bn if migrants’ access to benefits is reduced

My analysis of the fiscal impact of the "earned settlement" proposals, based on government's own data.

The direct savings are a fraction of the Home Secretary's misleading claims, and likely to be offset by the substantial costs of lower work-related migration.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Whilst the policy objective of the Earned Settlement proposals are very confused, I think it is safe to say they were designed in anticipation of this from Reform UK.

The Employment Rights Act will usher in a host of new protections for workers - but not all of them just yet.

We've created a clear timeline to assist workers in understanding when each protection or entitlement will become a reality.

www.workrightscentre.org/work-rights/...

‘I see it as trafficking’: the brutal reality of life as a foreign student in the UK The long read: Universities in Britain rely on overseas applicants paying full fees, which has given rise to some unscrupulous recruiters and left many hopefuls and their families deep in debt

This is great insight. It chimes a lot with my own experience of students and graduates looking for work in the UK. www.theguardian.com/education/ng...

Abusive carer had neglected an injured child in previous job Protective Care Group failed to tell offender’s next boss about ‘substantiated allegation’

Yesterday we exposed an appalling abuse scandal in an illegal children's home. Today we can reveal that one of the convicted criminals employed by the firm had neglected a child in his previous job 1/3 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...

You are likely aware that the national minimum wage goes up today💵

But what if you were working on a remote farm having traveled from Uzbekistan for the first time?

Share this flyer to help seasonal workers know their rights on UK farms (RU version in link)
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...

What Is Immigration Policy For? (What Is It For?) Buy What Is Immigration Policy For? (What Is It For?) by Madeleine Sumption (ISBN: 9781529238587) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Published today! My take on why it’s so difficult for governments to make immigration policies that people trust

What Is Immigration Policy For?

amzn.eu/d/03bM5fDM

There are exceptional circumstances that a change of conditions can apply. The litigation on this has centred around disability/health conditions and it isn't about showing destitution. Still though, I think your point is right, people like this would be locked out if they have no financial need.

I think that's the best case scenario to hope for.

Yes unfortunately that is generally how these consultations go IME. "What can we get away with"

which is why I am v.nervous about this 'watering down' rhetoric from the PM because it suggests they'll be guided by the politics not the evidence. Which all points to the whole thing needs to go.

but all this conversation goes to show is why they launched the consultation. They want to see all these different stress points to identify what they want to compromise on and not.

I can see someone saying "well if they need help, they can apply for a change of conditions" but that brings us back in front of the accessing benefits = 20 years issue. I suppose they could build an exception there for those who are in receipt of a disability benefit as opposed to a job seeker one