Colin Yeo
@colinyeo.bsky.social
Barrister, blogger and author of Welcome to Britain: Fixing Our Broken Immigration System. Fully updated paperback out now.
Pinned
Colin Yeo
@colinyeo.bsky.social
· Nov 12
An immigration lawyer reviews Paddington in Peru: A very British bear - Free Movement
They grow up so fast. As we will see, Paddington himself has almost certainly reached the age of ursine majority, whatever that might be. When I took my
freemovement.org.uk
“It isn’t unusual for a former asylum seeker like Paddington to become British. In fact, 70% of all refugees granted asylum over ten years ago ultimately went on to naturalise as British. What are the requirements that Paddington must have fulfilled?” freemovement.org.uk/an-immigrati...
Labour's approach to immigration from 1964 to 1979, articulated and enacted by Crossman, Soskice, Hattersley, Jenkins and others, was to limit numbers and integrate those who arrived.
Remember integration? That thing voters "really, really" care about? Where's that in the latest plans?
My column:
My column:
Labour has given up on integration
Shabana Mahmood's latest asylum plans prioritise return at the expense of integrating newcomers
www.newstatesman.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Labour's approach to immigration from 1964 to 1979, articulated and enacted by Crossman, Soskice, Hattersley, Jenkins and others, was to limit numbers and integrate those who arrived.
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Remember integration? That thing voters "really, really" care about? Where's that in the latest plans?
My column:
My column:
Labour has given up on integration
Shabana Mahmood's latest asylum plans prioritise return at the expense of integrating newcomers
www.newstatesman.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Remember integration? That thing voters "really, really" care about? Where's that in the latest plans?
My column:
My column:
From yesterday: Navigating the unmarried partner route under Appendix FM | Cathryn Davies
Navigating the unmarried partner route under Appendix FM - Free Movement
In this article we take a look at unmarried partner applications since the changes made to the definition in January 2024, removing the cohabitation
freemovement.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:31 AM
From yesterday: Navigating the unmarried partner route under Appendix FM | Cathryn Davies
Applying this to refugees already here self-evidently can't deter them from coming. But it will make their lives harder by prolonging their temporary status, making it harder to get jobs and accommodation and settle down properly. It would be a deliberate anti-integration policy. Why?
The i Paper is reporting that once the changes are brought in, the 20 year route will be applied to refugees who are already here.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Applying this to refugees already here self-evidently can't deter them from coming. But it will make their lives harder by prolonging their temporary status, making it harder to get jobs and accommodation and settle down properly. It would be a deliberate anti-integration policy. Why?
From yesterday: Immigration Solicitor at Islington Law Centre | Free Movement
Immigration Solicitor at Islington Law Centre - Free Movement
freemovement.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
From yesterday: Immigration Solicitor at Islington Law Centre | Free Movement
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Applying the changes to settlement to refugees already here would be particularly cruel and will create so much anxiety.
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
The i Paper is reporting that once the changes are brought in, the 20 year route will be applied to refugees who are already here.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
November 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Applying the changes to settlement to refugees already here would be particularly cruel and will create so much anxiety.
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
Reposted by Colin Yeo
The i Paper is reporting that once the changes are brought in, the 20 year route will be applied to refugees who are already here.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
November 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The i Paper is reporting that once the changes are brought in, the 20 year route will be applied to refugees who are already here.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
Excellent piece in the @lrb.co.uk by @crookedfootball.bsky.social about the Labour government's asylum plans www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
Christopher Bertram | ‘Core Protection’
Refugeehood is not supposed to be like this. The ideal envisaged by the Refugee Convention is that refugee status should...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Excellent piece in the @lrb.co.uk by @crookedfootball.bsky.social about the Labour government's asylum plans www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
New from FM: Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office | Sonia Lenegan
Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office - Free Movement
Decision making in visit visa applications is consistently awful and refusals very difficult to challenge given the remedy is an expensive judicial review.
freemovement.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:31 AM
New from FM: Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office | Sonia Lenegan
These visit visa refusals and repeat judicial reviews are maddeningly frustrating. Family visits are one of the most serious and important immigration applications but are treated as trivial. freemovement.org.uk/visit-visa-a...
Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office - Free Movement
Decision making in visit visa applications is consistently awful and refusals very difficult to challenge given the remedy is an expensive judicial review.
freemovement.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:23 AM
These visit visa refusals and repeat judicial reviews are maddeningly frustrating. Family visits are one of the most serious and important immigration applications but are treated as trivial. freemovement.org.uk/visit-visa-a...
New from Free Movement: Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/visit-visa-a...
Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office - Free Movement
Decision making in visit visa applications is consistently awful and refusals very difficult to challenge given the remedy is an expensive judicial review.
freemovement.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
New from Free Movement: Visit visa application wrongly refused four times by Home Office | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/visit-visa-a...
In case you missed it: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #94 | Sonia Lenegan
Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #94 - Free Movement
Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter!
freemovement.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
In case you missed it: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #94 | Sonia Lenegan
From yesterday: Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control” | Sonia Lenegan
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 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
From yesterday: Home Secretary announces major asylum and other changes in new policy paper: “Restoring Order and Control” | Sonia Lenegan
In case you missed it: Epping Council loses challenge to use of hotel as asylum accommodation | Sonia Lenegan
Epping Council loses challenge to use of hotel as asylum accommodation - Free Movement
Epping Forest District Council has lost its legal challenge in which it sought an injunction to prevent the Bell Hotel being used as asylum accommodation. The
freemovement.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
In case you missed it: Epping Council loses challenge to use of hotel as asylum accommodation | Sonia Lenegan
New from FM: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 | Sonia Lenegan
Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 - Free Movement
Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter!
freemovement.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
New from FM: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 | Sonia Lenegan
New from Free Movement: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/free-movemen...
Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 - Free Movement
Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter!
freemovement.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
New from Free Movement: Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #95 | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/free-movemen...
Reposted by Colin Yeo
In th piece, I quote @kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social as saying there's evidence the harsh social security rules in Denmark acted as a deterrent.
But, clearly, people leaving Syria will have little idea about what Denmark stands for as opposed to, say, Sweden. People have fixed ideas about Britain.
But, clearly, people leaving Syria will have little idea about what Denmark stands for as opposed to, say, Sweden. People have fixed ideas about Britain.
November 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In th piece, I quote @kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social as saying there's evidence the harsh social security rules in Denmark acted as a deterrent.
But, clearly, people leaving Syria will have little idea about what Denmark stands for as opposed to, say, Sweden. People have fixed ideas about Britain.
But, clearly, people leaving Syria will have little idea about what Denmark stands for as opposed to, say, Sweden. People have fixed ideas about Britain.
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Net migration now estimated to have fallen from 944,000 to 345,000 in Dec ‘24.
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
The coming collapse in immigration to the United Kingdom - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the fall in net migration to the UK as a result of government policies and explores some of the political and economic consequences.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Net migration now estimated to have fallen from 944,000 to 345,000 in Dec ‘24.
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Listening to Steve Reed explain on the radio today that he can't say what Mahmood's plan means for kids of people who give birth after they've been granted asylum because that's a hypothetical Q govt can't be expected to answer right now made me think these reforms are going to unravel quite fast
November 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Listening to Steve Reed explain on the radio today that he can't say what Mahmood's plan means for kids of people who give birth after they've been granted asylum because that's a hypothetical Q govt can't be expected to answer right now made me think these reforms are going to unravel quite fast
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Not sure "can't tell you, its a hypothetical" is going to be much use to an MP with a pregnant refugee in their surgery, asking if they and their baby is going to be deported.
Listening to Steve Reed explain on the radio today that he can't say what Mahmood's plan means for kids of people who give birth after they've been granted asylum because that's a hypothetical Q govt can't be expected to answer right now made me think these reforms are going to unravel quite fast
November 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Not sure "can't tell you, its a hypothetical" is going to be much use to an MP with a pregnant refugee in their surgery, asking if they and their baby is going to be deported.
In case you missed it: Suitability refusals: owing a debt to the NHS | Nath Gbikpi
Part Suitability: owing a debt to the NHS - Free Movement
Owing a debt to the National Health Service is a ground for refusing applications for permission to enter or remain in the UK. Such debts arise because
freemovement.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
In case you missed it: Suitability refusals: owing a debt to the NHS | Nath Gbikpi
Reposted by Colin Yeo
Oh wow! Wait till the Home Office see that chart!
What's that? It's their chart?
What's that? It's their chart?
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Oh wow! Wait till the Home Office see that chart!
What's that? It's their chart?
What's that? It's their chart?
Reposted by Colin Yeo
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.
Reposted by Colin Yeo
This is really very good not least because, apart from its specific proposals, it actually articulates a coherent economic *strategy* - something which the UK hasn't had for a long time.
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This is really very good not least because, apart from its specific proposals, it actually articulates a coherent economic *strategy* - something which the UK hasn't had for a long time.