This month the Scottish Youth Parliament responded to UK Government’s consultation on the ‘New Plan for Immigration’. The response is based on relevant SYP policy, findings from SYP’s 2021-26 manifesto research, and consultation with SYP’s External Affair, UK & International Committee and Equality & Human Rights Committee.
You can read our response in full by clicking here.
Erik Rosljajev MSYP for Aberdeen Central, and Convener of the External Affairs, UK and International Relations said:
“As a Committee, we firmly believe that New Plan for Immigration will negatively affect asylum seekers and refugees. Young people have told us how they think the plan will make it harder for the world’s most vulnerable people to seek refuge. In particular, we hold concerns around the proposed two-tiered system and the lack of safe passage routes in the plan (particularity for children and young people). Without suitable safe routes from Europe, we believe that many will continue to undertake dangerous journey’s that could cost them their lives.
“We are also worried about the limitations this plan could face on of family reunion rights. It is cruel to deny relatives to reunite with their family members, especially unaccompanied children left in refugee camps or totally unsafe circumstances. In a previous consultation, the young people of Scotland expressed their support for family reunion with overwhelming majority of 86%. Therefore, we want to see these rights made easily accessible to all, regardless of how they entered the country or how they are related to family.
Erik also said:
“Young people in Scotland are demanding fairer and humane changes to immigration, where the UK is upholding Human Rights, assists and protects the most vulnerable people that have found themselves in the worst possible situation where they were forced to flee their own country due to conflicts, repressions and persecution. We urge the UK government to review their plans, work closely with Devolved Governments, International Organisations, NGOs and Charities. It is highly important to uphold the Refugee Convention 1951 and find a suitable solution that would ensure the well-being and humanity of asylum seekers and refugees.”
