Small boats crackdown ‘would deny Paddington Bear refuge in the UK’, Labour MP says
Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreA new government crackdown on refugees travelling to the UK by small boat is so harsh it would mean turning away Paddington Bear, a Labour MP has said.The Home Office has toughened up existing guidance on Wednesday to make it nearly impossible for refugees to become British citizens if they travel to the UK by small boat.Under the previous guidance, refugees who arrived in the UK by irregular routes must wait ten years before being considered for citizenship. Now, new guidance issued by home secretary Yvette Cooper says applicants who have “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”.The move was fiercely criticised by Labour MP Stella Creasy who said it flew in the face of Britain’s tradition of letting those who seek refuge in the UK become “part of the community.”Diminishing returns: Paddington Bear in ‘Paddington in Peru’ More