CJ McKinney
@cjmckinney.bsky.social
Parliamentary adviser on immigration and asylum. Child of the Common Travel Area. Views, if any, are my own. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/authors/cj-mckinney/
Reposted by CJ McKinney
I'm thrilled to announce that Talk Data to Me now has a podcast.
My first guest is Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics at Kings, who talked to me about recent problems with UK economic data & budget challenges for the Chancellor.
Available to listen now 🔊
open.spotify.com/episode/6Txz...
My first guest is Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics at Kings, who talked to me about recent problems with UK economic data & budget challenges for the Chancellor.
Available to listen now 🔊
open.spotify.com/episode/6Txz...
Are we flying blind on the economy? with Jonathan Portes
open.spotify.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I'm thrilled to announce that Talk Data to Me now has a podcast.
My first guest is Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics at Kings, who talked to me about recent problems with UK economic data & budget challenges for the Chancellor.
Available to listen now 🔊
open.spotify.com/episode/6Txz...
My first guest is Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics at Kings, who talked to me about recent problems with UK economic data & budget challenges for the Chancellor.
Available to listen now 🔊
open.spotify.com/episode/6Txz...
The grace period for letting people travel to the UK without an electronic travel authorisation - never really advertised in writing - ends on 25 February 2026, Home Office announces www.gov.uk/government/n...
No permission, no travel: UK set to enforce ETA scheme
From February 2026, visitors will not be able to travel to the UK without advance permission.
www.gov.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The grace period for letting people travel to the UK without an electronic travel authorisation - never really advertised in writing - ends on 25 February 2026, Home Office announces www.gov.uk/government/n...
"Of the United Kingdom’s 100 fastest-growing companies, 54 have a foreign-born founder or co-founder" www.tenentrepreneurs.org/job-creators...
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
"Of the United Kingdom’s 100 fastest-growing companies, 54 have a foreign-born founder or co-founder" www.tenentrepreneurs.org/job-creators...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
The UK government's proposals on changes to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) rules have now been published in a consultation paper, ahead of a statement from the Home Secretary to MPs shortly www.gov.uk/government/c...
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The UK government's proposals on changes to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) rules have now been published in a consultation paper, ahead of a statement from the Home Secretary to MPs shortly www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
The title of the statement has been updated to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement - which makes more sense given what has been being briefed
Oh great, there's going to be another ministerial statement in the Commons with the title "asylum policy". There are three urgent questions and the business statement beforehand, so will probably start around 1pm or so.
November 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The title of the statement has been updated to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement - which makes more sense given what has been being briefed
Reposted by CJ McKinney
Worth remembering given the proposed ILR changes are going to be announced today. A "consultation" by the Home Office is usually 'this is what we want to do, how can we implement it?' rather than 'these are the various options we are thinking about, which do you prefer and why?'.
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Worth remembering given the proposed ILR changes are going to be announced today. A "consultation" by the Home Office is usually 'this is what we want to do, how can we implement it?' rather than 'these are the various options we are thinking about, which do you prefer and why?'.
Not many groups of migrants would be affected by a longer path to ILR if claiming benefits, since you normally can’t claim benefits unless you have ILR. Refugees and other humanitarian cases, primarily, assuming EU citizens covered by Brexit rules are exempt. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
November 20, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Not many groups of migrants would be affected by a longer path to ILR if claiming benefits, since you normally can’t claim benefits unless you have ILR. Refugees and other humanitarian cases, primarily, assuming EU citizens covered by Brexit rules are exempt. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
NEW: French police will use nets to try to stop small boats crossing the Channel – despite warnings this could be deadly
As UK pressure on France mounts, sources tell @lighthousereports.com and @lemonde.fr interceptions at sea will now take place, with nets
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
As UK pressure on France mounts, sources tell @lighthousereports.com and @lemonde.fr interceptions at sea will now take place, with nets
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
French police to use nets to stop small boats crossing Channel
New tactics to stop boats set to be introduced despite warnings there is ‘no way’ to carry out such manoeuvres safely
www.independent.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
NEW: French police will use nets to try to stop small boats crossing the Channel – despite warnings this could be deadly
As UK pressure on France mounts, sources tell @lighthousereports.com and @lemonde.fr interceptions at sea will now take place, with nets
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
As UK pressure on France mounts, sources tell @lighthousereports.com and @lemonde.fr interceptions at sea will now take place, with nets
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees gave a speech in London on Monday night (I went along). Full text is now available. Interesting to see him seem to endorse the UK-France 'one in, one out' deal. www.unhcr.org/news/speeche...
November 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees gave a speech in London on Monday night (I went along). Full text is now available. Interesting to see him seem to endorse the UK-France 'one in, one out' deal. www.unhcr.org/news/speeche...
"Hotel accommodation has become the defining feature of the UK’s asylum system, with thousands of people forced to live in cramped, unsafe, and inadequate conditions for months or even years at a time" www.ramfel.org.uk/uploads/1/1/...
www.ramfel.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"Hotel accommodation has become the defining feature of the UK’s asylum system, with thousands of people forced to live in cramped, unsafe, and inadequate conditions for months or even years at a time" www.ramfel.org.uk/uploads/1/1/...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
In the 2010s, net migration was around 250k to 350k each year. Under today's revised estimates, net migration in 2024 (345k) was a lot closer to pre-Brexit levels, although still at the higher end.
But a further fall is likely in next week's migration stats, for the year ending June 2025.
But a further fall is likely in next week's migration stats, for the year ending June 2025.
Revised estimates from the ONS suggest that net migration reached a peak of 944,000 in 2023 (rather than 906,000) and fell faster in 2024, to 345,000 (not 431,000).
Here's all you need to know, in three posts...
Here's all you need to know, in three posts...
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In the 2010s, net migration was around 250k to 350k each year. Under today's revised estimates, net migration in 2024 (345k) was a lot closer to pre-Brexit levels, although still at the higher end.
But a further fall is likely in next week's migration stats, for the year ending June 2025.
But a further fall is likely in next week's migration stats, for the year ending June 2025.
Net migration was 345,000 in 2024, the Office for National Statistics now estimates - 20% lower than its first estimate of 431,000: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula.... The update includes much higher emigration of British citizens than previously thought.
Improving long-term international migration statistics, updating our methods and estimates - Office for National Statistics
Headline findings and revised estimates from updated data and new methods to estimate long-term international migration of British and EU+ nationals. These are official statistics in development.
www.ons.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Net migration was 345,000 in 2024, the Office for National Statistics now estimates - 20% lower than its first estimate of 431,000: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula.... The update includes much higher emigration of British citizens than previously thought.
Interesting comment from the Home Secretary today on the significance of bringing back adjudicators to decide asylum appeals hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Interesting comment from the Home Secretary today on the significance of bringing back adjudicators to decide asylum appeals hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
New post
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/17/t...
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/17/t...
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
Proposals for radical reform of the UK’s asylum system raise a number of legal and constitutional issues, with respect both to the European Convention on Human Rights and the domestic principle of …
publiclawforeveryone.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
New post
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/17/t...
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/17/t...
Reposted by CJ McKinney
Justice and Migration Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he's committed to ensuring Ireland is 'not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum'.
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
O'Callaghan 'committed' to ensuring Ireland not viewed 'more favourably' than the UK by asylum seekers
A new International Protection Bill to reform Ireland’s asylum system will be published later this year.
jrnl.ie
November 17, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Justice and Migration Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he's committed to ensuring Ireland is 'not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum'.
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
Reposted by CJ McKinney
New from Free Movement: Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control” | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: "Restoring Order and Control" - Free Movement
Following a plethora of media briefings and coverage over the past few days, the Home Secretary has officially published her policy paper on "Restoring Order
freemovement.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
New from Free Movement: Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control” | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
The Home Secretary's statement to MPs channels Neil Kinnock in 1985, referring to the "grotesque chaos" of asylum seekers housed in hotels and "shuttled around in taxis".
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Home Secretary's statement to MPs channels Neil Kinnock in 1985, referring to the "grotesque chaos" of asylum seekers housed in hotels and "shuttled around in taxis".
The Home Office has now published its much-trailed policy paper on changes to asylum rules www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The Home Office has now published its much-trailed policy paper on changes to asylum rules www.gov.uk/government/p...
Pretty confused discussion of asylum reform on the Today programme. The number of foreign national offenders able to resist deportation using the ECHR is basically irrelevant to policy on refugees. #r4today
November 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Pretty confused discussion of asylum reform on the Today programme. The number of foreign national offenders able to resist deportation using the ECHR is basically irrelevant to policy on refugees. #r4today
Lady Chief Justice says plans under way to publish all First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) decisions www.ein.org.uk/news/lady-ch...
Lady Chief Justice says plans under way to publish all First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) decisions
Full rollout of new platform to publish all First-tier Tribunal (IAC) judgments expected within months
www.ein.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Lady Chief Justice says plans under way to publish all First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) decisions www.ein.org.uk/news/lady-ch...
It doesn’t necessarily follow that reviewing refugee status means that more people will be removed. It is already notionally the case that status is reviewed after five years, but in practice refugees don’t lose residence rights at this point.
November 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
It doesn’t necessarily follow that reviewing refugee status means that more people will be removed. It is already notionally the case that status is reviewed after five years, but in practice refugees don’t lose residence rights at this point.
Reposted by CJ McKinney
Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo will face sanctions if they do not start taking back more illegal migrants and criminals
Shabana Mahmood threatens Trump-style visa ban on three countries
www.thetimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo will face sanctions if they do not start taking back more illegal migrants and criminals
Reposted by CJ McKinney
Here’s a quote from @bbcdomc.bsky.social in 2005 about the original policy change news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_poli...
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Here’s a quote from @bbcdomc.bsky.social in 2005 about the original policy change news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_poli...
“Refugees to face 20-year wait to settle permanently under asylum reforms” www.bbc.com/news/article...
Refugees to face 20-year wait to settle permanently under asylum reforms
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce major reforms to the asylum system on Monday.
www.bbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
“Refugees to face 20-year wait to settle permanently under asylum reforms” www.bbc.com/news/article...