Yesterday morning, we tturned tot the topic of immigraion. This debate consisted of two motions from London Region. I usually post the words and my speech notes to these blog reviews, but motion 249 in particular is quite long as is the CEC qualification. I have posted the motions and qualifications to a document; they can be read here, or the motions can be found in the final agenda document.
I made a video clip of the debate. I moved the second motion and was able to commend the speeches of Mark Livingstone and Jonathan Coles on M248 p132, and in fact commented in my speech that I felt they humanised the issue in a way that I do not, as did Funmi Nwagagbo seconding M249.
By proposing and passing these motions, we establish that the GMB opposes the policies pursued by the Starmer administration of making entry to the UK harder and that we oppose the vicious rhetoric of the Home Office. We support a right of entry to workers, and refugees, oppose the extension of the waiting period to allow application for indefinite leave to remain and citizenship, oppose the restriction on family reunification and the offshoring of refugee processing.
Here are my notes for my speech,
President, Congress, Dave Levy, London Region moving motion 249
Over the last few years, the GMB has been developing stronger policy on immigration centred around the rights of immigrants, decent treatment for all citizens, and the inclusion of new arrivals in a relationship of solidarity in our communities and workplaces.
Last year we also explicitly opposed the suspension of the Syrian refugee route of entry as unacceptable and wrong.
We also called for the repeal of the Tory immigration legislation, for a guarantee of safe and legal routes for asylum seekers, day-one rights to work, education, and social security for asylum seekers and a right to family reunion for asylum seekers and citizens.
Our Labour Government’s response would seem to be to do the exact opposite. Being in the room would seem to have failed on this policy area.
Over the Autumn, the newly appointed Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, made two announcements, “Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy”. which was supplemented by A fairer pathway to settlement which extends the time required to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain and to be eligible for citizenship.
The worst of these proposals include measures to prohibit entry to families of researchers, the extending of the time required before obtaining indefinite leave to remain, the residence longevity before access to citizenship, and the recurring visa costs are which are discriminatory, cruel and counterproductive.
We should be welcoming migrants and refugees and extending them the solidarity on which our movement is based. People without rights will find it harder to build a secure life, to join unions and offer us the solidarity we need.
These measures in particular the proposal to make refugee entry subject to review is a fundamental attack or refugees ability to build their lives having fled from the fear of death or torture.
It would seem that the intellectual driver, if you can call it that, of this these proposals is the current Labour Party strategy of triangulated against reform, pursuing the failed strategy of courting “hero voters”. When will they learn that Labour can never win racist votes through the pursuit of racism. Reform voters are not going to vote labour. The movement can’t fight reform by copying them, all it does is legitimise their politics.
This union needs to say No as it has done for many years and seek to persuade the Labour Party in government this is the wrong way to build a better society.
The CEC might also like to consider an action plan as it would seem our previous one has not been effective.
I believe that the movement cannot outperform Reform UK on this topic and that we and the Labour Party must stand for an immigration and refugee policy based on dignity and welcome.
Please vote for this motion