Jamie Fookes
@jrfookes.bsky.social
Labour exploitation activist / Former advocacy manager at Anti-Slavery International and Branch Steward UNISON CVOB / migrant rights and worker liberation / Queer, trade unionist, food & drink enthusiast
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Bad news for Starmer- union ally Christina Mcanea loses Unison General Secretary election. Replaced by Andrea Egan, who ran from the left, and has promised to review Unison's relationship with Labour.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Andrea Egan Wins Unison Race In Blow For No 10
Keir Starmer critic Andrea Egan has won the race to be general secretary of Unison, Britain's biggest trade union and a key Labour Party affiliate,...
www.politicshome.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Bad news for Starmer- union ally Christina Mcanea loses Unison General Secretary election. Replaced by Andrea Egan, who ran from the left, and has promised to review Unison's relationship with Labour.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Good news! Alan Milburn 67 year old career politician will review inactivity among young people. With the help of Charlie Mayfield (58), Andy Haldane (58) and Dame Casey (60). Sounds great, no notes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Alan Milburn launches major UK review into rising inactivity among young people
Report to highlight ‘uncomfortable truths’ and could recommend ‘radical change’, former health secretary says
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Good news! Alan Milburn 67 year old career politician will review inactivity among young people. With the help of Charlie Mayfield (58), Andy Haldane (58) and Dame Casey (60). Sounds great, no notes.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Sarcastic response is obviously "Merry Christmas from the Home Office"
More professional response is that, for this government's increased immigration raids in general, statistically they are targeting victims of trafficking more than the people doing the trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More professional response is that, for this government's increased immigration raids in general, statistically they are targeting victims of trafficking more than the people doing the trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Illegal workers arrested in Surrey Christmas market raid
Eleven men are
www.bbc.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Sarcastic response is obviously "Merry Christmas from the Home Office"
More professional response is that, for this government's increased immigration raids in general, statistically they are targeting victims of trafficking more than the people doing the trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More professional response is that, for this government's increased immigration raids in general, statistically they are targeting victims of trafficking more than the people doing the trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Huge well done to Jed and team, outrageous that this application was ever refused on good character grounds because of illegal entry. Many will be in the same or similar situation and unable to bring such a challenge. The guidance needs to change.
Woman who fled rape and torture in DRC wins UK citizenship case after Home Office U-turn
Woman who fled rape and torture in DRC wins UK citizenship case after Home Office U-turn
Victory thought to be first under new policy that normally refuses applicants such as refugees who entered illegally
A woman who fled rape and torture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 18 years ago and was denied British citizenship because she entered the UK illegally has won her case after a government U-turn.
It is thought to be the first victory under a new policy whereby citizenship applications from people such as refugees who enter the UK illegally will normally be refused. She successfully challenged the refusal in a high court case. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Huge well done to Jed and team, outrageous that this application was ever refused on good character grounds because of illegal entry. Many will be in the same or similar situation and unable to bring such a challenge. The guidance needs to change.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Innocent people end up in our criminal courts.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
December 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Innocent people end up in our criminal courts.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Completely, terrifyingly innocent.
And all that stands between them and losing everything is a fair trial.
Politicians would do well to remember this when they tell us that justice is all about processing “criminals” swiftly.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Big jump in outstanding asylum appeals - nearly 70,000 waiting to be heard at the end of September. More than the initial decisions backlog. 60 weeks the average time to disposal.
37% of disposals now due to withdrawals - presumably as the Home Office realises how bad the decisions were.
37% of disposals now due to withdrawals - presumably as the Home Office realises how bad the decisions were.
December 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Big jump in outstanding asylum appeals - nearly 70,000 waiting to be heard at the end of September. More than the initial decisions backlog. 60 weeks the average time to disposal.
37% of disposals now due to withdrawals - presumably as the Home Office realises how bad the decisions were.
37% of disposals now due to withdrawals - presumably as the Home Office realises how bad the decisions were.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Nearly every Take relating to this has been done except one, which is - why would the European leaders take advice from Starmer on how to beat the far right? Who among them envies his popularity or admires the sagacity of his advisors?
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Nearly every Take relating to this has been done except one, which is - why would the European leaders take advice from Starmer on how to beat the far right? Who among them envies his popularity or admires the sagacity of his advisors?
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
December 10, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Reminder that the ECHR prevents people being expelled to face torture, inhuman treatment, slavery or death, and prevents splitting of families unless there's a strong enough public interest.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
European leaders back ECHR plan to tackle illegal migration
Countries in treaty - including the UK - will negotiate a "political declaration" to make it easier to deport migrants.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reminder that the ECHR prevents people being expelled to face torture, inhuman treatment, slavery or death, and prevents splitting of families unless there's a strong enough public interest.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
European leaders are evidently comfortable with at least some of those things, at least for foreigners.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
"If growth was actually your priority, you would not be doing this."
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Tighter visa rules will cost UK up to £10.8bn
Home Office assessment shows impact of latest changes to immigration regime over next five years
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"If growth was actually your priority, you would not be doing this."
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Ah, he has no co-written a piece with the Danish PM who is a milquetoast centrist overseeing some of the toughest immigration rules in Europe and is coincidentally losing ground to the far right and a rapid rate...
"See off the far right" by giving the fascists what they want, emboldening them and laying the ground work for them to commit vile human rights abuses more quickly and with less checks is the most brain rot desperate nonsense ever uttered by a PM www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Ah, he has no co-written a piece with the Danish PM who is a milquetoast centrist overseeing some of the toughest immigration rules in Europe and is coincidentally losing ground to the far right and a rapid rate...
"See off the far right" by giving the fascists what they want, emboldening them and laying the ground work for them to commit vile human rights abuses more quickly and with less checks is the most brain rot desperate nonsense ever uttered by a PM www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:47 AM
"See off the far right" by giving the fascists what they want, emboldening them and laying the ground work for them to commit vile human rights abuses more quickly and with less checks is the most brain rot desperate nonsense ever uttered by a PM www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
The more you read this more insane it is. Deranged, paternalistic scientifically illiterate bile from a bigot who got elevated way above their station.
This is such an extreme and deeply segregationist view to hold it should completely discredit her from her position.
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
December 7, 2025 at 5:55 AM
The more you read this more insane it is. Deranged, paternalistic scientifically illiterate bile from a bigot who got elevated way above their station.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
This is such an extreme and deeply segregationist view to hold it should completely discredit her from her position.
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
December 7, 2025 at 5:50 AM
This is such an extreme and deeply segregationist view to hold it should completely discredit her from her position.
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
This is such an extreme and deeply segregationist view to hold it should completely discredit her from her position.
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
December 7, 2025 at 5:50 AM
This is such an extreme and deeply segregationist view to hold it should completely discredit her from her position.
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Stating that a group, clearly protected in the spirit and word of the equality act, where tricked into 'thinking they have rights" is unforgivable she must resign
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
🔴I spent time getting to know the Pink Ladies, a group of 'ordinary mothers' who are funded by Restore Britain's Rupert Lowe and whose leader shared a stage with a prominent neo-Nazi. It was...eye-opening.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
The 'Pink Ladies' Laundering Anti-Migrant Views Into the Mainstream
An anti-migrant movement backed by Reform and Conservative politicians and regularly invited onto news channels is funded by a far-right group and has platformed a Neo-Nazi activist
bylinetimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🔴I spent time getting to know the Pink Ladies, a group of 'ordinary mothers' who are funded by Restore Britain's Rupert Lowe and whose leader shared a stage with a prominent neo-Nazi. It was...eye-opening.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
This is the guy who gave Boris Johnson £1 million and then won a big MoD contract....
Reform gets largest ever political donation by an individual in UK history from a crypto baron living in Thailand
This is not normal
www.ft.com/content/db73...
This is not normal
www.ft.com/content/db73...
Reform UK gets £9mn donation from Christopher Harborne
Nigel Farage’s party attracts far more funding than both Labour and the Conservatives
www.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
This is the guy who gave Boris Johnson £1 million and then won a big MoD contract....
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
"Briefing on the UK & India Free Trade Agreement which is basically about trade liberalisation & fails to include commitments on human rights, climate & development, entrenching short-term commercial gains over long-term sustainability" (@/SAsiaSolidarity on twitter) tjm.org.uk/resource/the...
The UK–India FTA: a missed opportunity for fair and sustainable trade - Trade Justice Movement
The United Kingdom and India concluded a Free Trade Agreement on 24 July 2025, a deal which locks in trade liberalisation but fails to include commitments on human rights, climate and development. It ...
tjm.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
"Briefing on the UK & India Free Trade Agreement which is basically about trade liberalisation & fails to include commitments on human rights, climate & development, entrenching short-term commercial gains over long-term sustainability" (@/SAsiaSolidarity on twitter) tjm.org.uk/resource/the...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Extremely grim consequence of Home Sec announcement of penalising claiming benefits claims in routes to settlement: a low-paid carer cancelling housing benefit, universal credit, and disability allowance for her autistic daughter’s personal care and mobility www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Extremely grim consequence of Home Sec announcement of penalising claiming benefits claims in routes to settlement: a low-paid carer cancelling housing benefit, universal credit, and disability allowance for her autistic daughter’s personal care and mobility www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
🔴 The government's latest plans will push an already failing asylum system to new extremes of harm.
The uncertainty, fear & instability the proposed changes create will only deepen the trauma faced by refugees & people seeking safety.
Read our full statement ➡️ tinyurl.com/mphbj2m3
The uncertainty, fear & instability the proposed changes create will only deepen the trauma faced by refugees & people seeking safety.
Read our full statement ➡️ tinyurl.com/mphbj2m3
November 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🔴 The government's latest plans will push an already failing asylum system to new extremes of harm.
The uncertainty, fear & instability the proposed changes create will only deepen the trauma faced by refugees & people seeking safety.
Read our full statement ➡️ tinyurl.com/mphbj2m3
The uncertainty, fear & instability the proposed changes create will only deepen the trauma faced by refugees & people seeking safety.
Read our full statement ➡️ tinyurl.com/mphbj2m3
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
This puts those families and children at a major economic and social disadvantage. Why? To stop some coming in future? To force them to leave? No evidence either will happen. They will still come and they will still settle, but after years of scrimping compared to other families.
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
November 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This puts those families and children at a major economic and social disadvantage. Why? To stop some coming in future? To force them to leave? No evidence either will happen. They will still come and they will still settle, but after years of scrimping compared to other families.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Yes: we'd calculated that a single parent with 2 kids who started their settlement journey in 2017 would pay >£27k in fees & IHS over 10yrs to settle (w/o citizenship & pre-2025⬆️). Now >£54k for 20yrs if they'd ever claimed benefits for >12mnths - £225/month extra in essential HH costs over 20yrs.
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
‘Remigration’ is a term that comes out of the European far right. Its use by the DHS account is a sign of democratic and epistemic collapse
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM
‘Remigration’ is a term that comes out of the European far right. Its use by the DHS account is a sign of democratic and epistemic collapse
Reposted by Jamie Fookes
Trial by jury is now “gaming the system” why are you clapping for fascism Pippa? And also you mean DEFENDANTS.
It comes after our @jessicaelgot.bsky.social revealed that criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury to increase chances of proceedings collapsing - and that govt was planning radical changes to limit jury trials by next election.
November 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Trial by jury is now “gaming the system” why are you clapping for fascism Pippa? And also you mean DEFENDANTS.