Alison Phipps አሊሰን
@alisonphipps.bsky.social
UNESCO Chair for Refugee Integration through Education, Languages & Arts at University of Glasgow
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Labour MPs have denounced their own party's sweeping asylum overhaul, branding the proposals 'desperate' and 'deeply offensive'
'Bottom of the barrel': Labour MPs blast own party's 'deeply offensive' asylum plans
www.thenational.scot
November 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Labour MPs have denounced their own party's sweeping asylum overhaul, branding the proposals 'desperate' and 'deeply offensive'
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
EXCLUSIVE: A Scottish university has been accused of 'losing the plot' as bosses threaten staff and students with disciplinary action in the event of protests at graduation ceremonies this winter
‘Losing the plot’: Scottish university under fire over escalating protests crackdown
www.thenational.scot
November 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
EXCLUSIVE: A Scottish university has been accused of 'losing the plot' as bosses threaten staff and students with disciplinary action in the event of protests at graduation ceremonies this winter
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
A refugee who came to the UK from Yemen has torn into 'appalling' plans to overhaul the asylum system, accusing ministers of 'punishing' people for seeking security from war and conflict
Glasgow refugee says UK asylum reforms will do 'nothing but harm'
www.thenational.scot
November 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A refugee who came to the UK from Yemen has torn into 'appalling' plans to overhaul the asylum system, accusing ministers of 'punishing' people for seeking security from war and conflict
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Tomorrow's front page 📰
Massive backlash as Mahmood announces asylum shake-up
Massive backlash as Mahmood announces asylum shake-up
November 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Tomorrow's front page 📰
Massive backlash as Mahmood announces asylum shake-up
Massive backlash as Mahmood announces asylum shake-up
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
A useful reminder that the ECHR is not the only international treaty on play, but ofc incorporation in Scotland does not extend to reserved matters (or indeed any UK legislation).
November 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A useful reminder that the ECHR is not the only international treaty on play, but ofc incorporation in Scotland does not extend to reserved matters (or indeed any UK legislation).
Pretty sure jewellery and maybe child detention will be ‘sacrificial policies’ which they will drop to get appeasement of rebels but truly unworkable stuff will then go through. There will consequently but more boats with more people who didn’t know about complex capped routes for highly literate
November 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Pretty sure jewellery and maybe child detention will be ‘sacrificial policies’ which they will drop to get appeasement of rebels but truly unworkable stuff will then go through. There will consequently but more boats with more people who didn’t know about complex capped routes for highly literate
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Greens: “Confiscating the belongings of people fleeing war and violence, and trapping refugees in perpetual limbo, where even those granted asylum would have the constant threat of deportation hanging over their heads."
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Greens: “Confiscating the belongings of people fleeing war and violence, and trapping refugees in perpetual limbo, where even those granted asylum would have the constant threat of deportation hanging over their heads."
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
ICYMI: The Greens have responded to the Govt's plans for changes to the asylum system.
Carla Denyer MP: “This is a new low...plumbing the depths of performative cruelty, in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing communities across this country."
Carla Denyer MP: “This is a new low...plumbing the depths of performative cruelty, in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing communities across this country."
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
ICYMI: The Greens have responded to the Govt's plans for changes to the asylum system.
Carla Denyer MP: “This is a new low...plumbing the depths of performative cruelty, in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing communities across this country."
Carla Denyer MP: “This is a new low...plumbing the depths of performative cruelty, in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing communities across this country."
BBC Scotland: “Let’s talk about”illegal migration”
CORRECT this every time the editors choose this term - seeking asylum is not illegal.
Let’s talk about the asylum system, which is both horrifying and tedious but NOT a crime report
CORRECT this every time the editors choose this term - seeking asylum is not illegal.
Let’s talk about the asylum system, which is both horrifying and tedious but NOT a crime report
November 17, 2025 at 7:20 PM
BBC Scotland: “Let’s talk about”illegal migration”
CORRECT this every time the editors choose this term - seeking asylum is not illegal.
Let’s talk about the asylum system, which is both horrifying and tedious but NOT a crime report
CORRECT this every time the editors choose this term - seeking asylum is not illegal.
Let’s talk about the asylum system, which is both horrifying and tedious but NOT a crime report
They do know that many cultures don’t have rings as marriage symbols but other artefacts that in this “bags of gold rings” ignorance they will obviously be seizing.
Also whether you “seize” at a border or during a raid of a damp barracks it’s the seizing that’s wrong. Utterly wrong.
Also whether you “seize” at a border or during a raid of a damp barracks it’s the seizing that’s wrong. Utterly wrong.
Labour MP Sarah Owen asks Shabana Mahmood for "any evidence taking personal belongings, such as jewellery from refugees and selling it off actually works as a deterrent?"
Mahmood "We will not seize people's jewelry at the border"
"We're not going after their sentimental items like wedding rings"
Mahmood "We will not seize people's jewelry at the border"
"We're not going after their sentimental items like wedding rings"
November 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
They do know that many cultures don’t have rings as marriage symbols but other artefacts that in this “bags of gold rings” ignorance they will obviously be seizing.
Also whether you “seize” at a border or during a raid of a damp barracks it’s the seizing that’s wrong. Utterly wrong.
Also whether you “seize” at a border or during a raid of a damp barracks it’s the seizing that’s wrong. Utterly wrong.
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
It is madness that unelected Glasman and McSweeney can have any influence over the PM, ministers and policy (same with Cummings, Timothy etc etc) and especially so when linked to the vile and highly dangerous Bannon.
🔴Maurice Glasman and Morgan McSweeney: The Bannon-Inspired ‘Blue Labour’ Lobby Behind Shabana Mahmood
One of the key supporters of the Home Secretary’s hard line on asylum seekers is an admirer of Trump’s former campaign manager
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/17/m...
One of the key supporters of the Home Secretary’s hard line on asylum seekers is an admirer of Trump’s former campaign manager
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/17/m...
Maurice Glasman and Morgan McSweeney: The Bannon-Inspired ‘Blue Labour’ Lobby Behind Shabana Mahmood
One of the key supporters of the Home Secretary’s hard line on asylum seekers is an admirer of Trump’s former campaign manager – one of Jeffrey Epstein’s closest confidantes
bylinetimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
It is madness that unelected Glasman and McSweeney can have any influence over the PM, ministers and policy (same with Cummings, Timothy etc etc) and especially so when linked to the vile and highly dangerous Bannon.
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
When politics can provide no real solutions for people's lives, welcome to 'The Carousel of Scapegoats': distracting, psychological projection to make them feel 'better' – because the lives of 'others' can be made worse
New Byline Times print edition available in shops / subscribe.bylinetimes.com 👇
New Byline Times print edition available in shops / subscribe.bylinetimes.com 👇
November 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
When politics can provide no real solutions for people's lives, welcome to 'The Carousel of Scapegoats': distracting, psychological projection to make them feel 'better' – because the lives of 'others' can be made worse
New Byline Times print edition available in shops / subscribe.bylinetimes.com 👇
New Byline Times print edition available in shops / subscribe.bylinetimes.com 👇
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
It's hard to find words to capture quite how revolting, steeped in bigotry, irresponsible, morally unmoored, Labour has become. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It's hard to find words to capture quite how revolting, steeped in bigotry, irresponsible, morally unmoored, Labour has become. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Watching the Mahmood announcement and debate. Tory backbencher (Karen Bradley) suggests putting refugees into debt and making them repay during the rest of their lives. Mahmood says she’ll think about it.
November 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Watching the Mahmood announcement and debate. Tory backbencher (Karen Bradley) suggests putting refugees into debt and making them repay during the rest of their lives. Mahmood says she’ll think about it.
Asking lawyers out there - does the return of child detention mean Labour Government have unsigned Convention on Rights of Child? And what about Scotland where it was signed by Scottish Parliament @aileenmcharg.bsky.social thoughts?
November 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Asking lawyers out there - does the return of child detention mean Labour Government have unsigned Convention on Rights of Child? And what about Scotland where it was signed by Scottish Parliament @aileenmcharg.bsky.social thoughts?
Asylum proposals.
We will have to start Kenmuring a range of stuff like child detention, raids, jewellery heists BUT this will be mostly bureaucratic so we need bureaucratic resistance- it’s harder work than occasional necessary outraged cold protest on streets but incredibly effective in long run
We will have to start Kenmuring a range of stuff like child detention, raids, jewellery heists BUT this will be mostly bureaucratic so we need bureaucratic resistance- it’s harder work than occasional necessary outraged cold protest on streets but incredibly effective in long run
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Asylum proposals.
We will have to start Kenmuring a range of stuff like child detention, raids, jewellery heists BUT this will be mostly bureaucratic so we need bureaucratic resistance- it’s harder work than occasional necessary outraged cold protest on streets but incredibly effective in long run
We will have to start Kenmuring a range of stuff like child detention, raids, jewellery heists BUT this will be mostly bureaucratic so we need bureaucratic resistance- it’s harder work than occasional necessary outraged cold protest on streets but incredibly effective in long run
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
🔴 How Our Politicians Created an 'Island of Strangers' So They Don't Have to Make Our Lives Any Better
"By vowing to tackle our 'island of strangers' through immigration, Starmer keeps us trapped on it – by not offering solutions to the real reasons for our estrangement" @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
"By vowing to tackle our 'island of strangers' through immigration, Starmer keeps us trapped on it – by not offering solutions to the real reasons for our estrangement" @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
How Our Politicians Created an ‘Island of Strangers’ So They Don’t Have to Make Our Lives Any Better
By presenting tougher immigration as a solution to people’s discontent, Keir Starmer and others sidestep the real reasons why people feel estranged in their lives – it’s a cynical and simplistic polit...
bylinetimes.com
May 26, 2025 at 10:54 AM
🔴 How Our Politicians Created an 'Island of Strangers' So They Don't Have to Make Our Lives Any Better
"By vowing to tackle our 'island of strangers' through immigration, Starmer keeps us trapped on it – by not offering solutions to the real reasons for our estrangement" @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
"By vowing to tackle our 'island of strangers' through immigration, Starmer keeps us trapped on it – by not offering solutions to the real reasons for our estrangement" @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social
As always a brilliant thread from @colinyeo.bsky.social on Government’s impractical, unworkable, rhetorically cruel, sigh-inducingly unevidenced, bureaucratic make-workery that will make integration for everyone well nigh impossible, breaking the already broken pieces of asylum system even further
I'm reading through the white paper or whatever it is. RESTORING ORDER AND CONTROL: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy www.gov.uk/government/p...
Asylum and returns policy statement
This policy statement sets out significant reforms to the UK’s asylum and returns policy.
www.gov.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
As always a brilliant thread from @colinyeo.bsky.social on Government’s impractical, unworkable, rhetorically cruel, sigh-inducingly unevidenced, bureaucratic make-workery that will make integration for everyone well nigh impossible, breaking the already broken pieces of asylum system even further
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
And that's it. Overall impressions are
- there's still a surprising lack of detail
- lots of new work for officials but unlikely to lead to much change on the ground
- refugees will still live here rest of their lives but will struggle even more than before to integrate
- there's still a surprising lack of detail
- lots of new work for officials but unlikely to lead to much change on the ground
- refugees will still live here rest of their lives but will struggle even more than before to integrate
November 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM
And that's it. Overall impressions are
- there's still a surprising lack of detail
- lots of new work for officials but unlikely to lead to much change on the ground
- refugees will still live here rest of their lives but will struggle even more than before to integrate
- there's still a surprising lack of detail
- lots of new work for officials but unlikely to lead to much change on the ground
- refugees will still live here rest of their lives but will struggle even more than before to integrate
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Bit tough on, say, Ukrainians or Hong Kongers who'd like to enter after the cap is hit. "Soz that Russia won the war and you fled in fear for your life but we've already reached our quota for this year".
November 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Finally, there's to be a cap on safe and legal routes but no new details, really
November 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Finally, there's to be a cap on safe and legal routes but no new details, really
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Looks like new asylum screening process, perhaps, with some refusals to follow immediately after initial screening. And the last example there sounds very unlikely indeed. Applications and appeals are already treated as abandoned where a person leaves the UK.
November 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Looks like new asylum screening process, perhaps, with some refusals to follow immediately after initial screening. And the last example there sounds very unlikely indeed. Applications and appeals are already treated as abandoned where a person leaves the UK.
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Stuff on reforming the international interpretation of Article 3 ECHR "inhuman" and "degrading" is a pipe dream. Current definition dates from a case on the UK's treatment of IRA prisoners, btw.
November 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Stuff on reforming the international interpretation of Article 3 ECHR "inhuman" and "degrading" is a pipe dream. Current definition dates from a case on the UK's treatment of IRA prisoners, btw.
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Statutory definition of "family" to be introduced. Even though human rights law refuses strictly to define and limit family, in recognition of the infinite variety of human existence and the possibility of change over time. Might not seem important or have much real-world impact but this is Bad.
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Statutory definition of "family" to be introduced. Even though human rights law refuses strictly to define and limit family, in recognition of the infinite variety of human existence and the possibility of change over time. Might not seem important or have much real-world impact but this is Bad.
Reposted by Alison Phipps አሊሰን
Some sort of further tightening of the rules that Theresa May introduced in 2012 is on the cards. Because Theresa May was such a softie.
November 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Some sort of further tightening of the rules that Theresa May introduced in 2012 is on the cards. Because Theresa May was such a softie.