This House of Lords Library topical briefing provides wider context to the migrant crossings in the channel, examines the reasons why greater numbers are undertaking seaborne crossings, and outlines the government's response to the recent rise in crossings.
English Channel Migrant Boat Crossings (208 KB , PDF)
In December 2018 there was a significant increase in the numbers of migrants, many claiming to be Iranian on arrival, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel in small ill-equipped inflatable boats. This, in addition to the fact that the English Channel contains some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and has unpredictable weather conditions, were factors that, combined, posed a real danger to lives. It led to the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, declaring the crossings a “major incident” on 28 December 2018. This briefing provides some wider context to the migrant crossings in the channel, examines specifically why migrants appear to be taking more risky and extreme measures to cross the channel on small boats, and outlines what the government’s response has been to this recent rise in crossings. In line with media reports on this subject, this briefing refers to all individuals moving across borders that have not yet completed the legal process of claiming asylum as migrants.
English Channel Migrant Boat Crossings (208 KB , PDF)
Following the 70th anniversary celebrations in 2018, the Government announced a national Windrush Day on 22 June each year, to pay tribute to the Windrush generation and their descendants. In this article, we examine who the Windrush generation are and the various Windrush schemes implemented by the Government since acknowledging the unfair treatment of members of the Windrush generation.
‘Magnitsky’ sanctions target those responsible for human rights violations or corruption. The UK established a global human rights sanctions regime in 2020 and a global anti-corruption sanction regime this year, using powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
The Asian Youth Movements formed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, as second generation South Asian people mobilised against racism. Following on from our articles on Black Lives Matter and the early UK Black Panther movement, we take a closer look at their membership, their aims and campaigns, and their legacy within the UK today.
