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A Labour MP has criticized new immigration rules that would permanently bar individuals who entered the UK illegally from obtaining British citizenship, calling the changes “counterproductive.” A refugee charity also condemned the move, describing it as a “dark moment” in the country’s history.
The Home Office updated its good character guidance on Monday, stating that applicants who have entered the UK illegally will “normally” be denied citizenship, regardless of how long they have lived in the country. The guidance specifically mentions those who arrived via dangerous routes, such as by small boat or hidden in a vehicle.
The update coincides with Labour’s new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which was approved in its first Commons vote on Monday. The bill eliminates the Conservative government’s Rwanda scheme and introduces new criminal offenses and counter-terror-style powers to tackle people smuggling networks operating in the English Channel.
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, supported the bill’s efforts to repeal the Rwanda policy but opposed the new Home Office guidance. She argued that the change undermines the UK’s reputation for offering refuge to those fleeing persecution.
Kolbassia Haoussou from the charity Freedom From Torture also condemned the decision, warning that it would hinder refugees’ ability to integrate and contribute to society. Calling it a "dark moment in British history," he urged the government to reconsider.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the policy, emphasizing that existing rules already limit citizenship for those entering illegally. The new guidance, they said, reinforces these measures to ensure that illegal arrivals, including those who cross by small boat, face citizenship refusals.
