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CJ McKinney

@cjmckinney.bsky.social
7.2K followers 173 following 1.2K posts

Parliamentary adviser on immigration and asylum. Child of the Common Travel Area. Views, if any, are my own. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/author…

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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Lot of highfalutin explanations for the unpopularity of Romanian immigrants offered here, but a lot of British people just think that "Romanian" = "Roma" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"The most important reason why immigration is more successful in the United States is the simplest: Europe makes it structurally much harder for immigrants to work" www.theargumentmag.com/p/why-americ...
theargumentmag.com
Why America is so much better than Europe at immigration
What liberals can actually learn from Denmark
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Work Rights Centre @workrights.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Home Office rules on Right to Work checks are being updated from tomorrow. Read our explainer, which covers: • When will businesses need to conduct a Right to Work check? • How can businesses conduct these checks? • Is one Right to Work check enough? www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
workrightscentre.org
Right to Work checks to be redefined from 1 October 2026 | Work Rights Centre
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Immigration Bot @immigrationbot.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"The one in, one out deal is being wound down, after it returned around 1,400 people back to France, French officials say" — The Independent
independent.co.uk
UK’s flagship one in, one out migrant exchange deal with France ‘to end’
The one in, one out deal is being wound down, after it returned around 1,400 people back to France, French officials say
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"The government expects the total arrivals across UK Resettlement and the 3 new community sponsorship routes to number in the hundreds at first, but this will grow into the low thousands as levels of illegal migration fall. A cap will be set each year." www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
UK Resettlement Scheme reopens for new referrals
The Home Secretary has reopened the UK Resettlement Scheme, with around a quarter of referrals expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Written because we are asked all the time how many migrants are living in a certain area or constituency; article explains that the only comprehensive figures are from the census every ten years
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Home Secretary’s full speech to the Labour Party conference today: labour.org.uk/updates/stor...
labour.org.uk
Shabana Mahmood's speech to Labour Party Conference 2026 – The Labour Party
Hear from Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary, at Labour Party Conference 2026.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"Mahmood will tell the Labour conference on Monday that she will reopen the UK [refugee] resettlement scheme... The Home Office expects about one in four arrivals to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees, though numbers will initially be very small". www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
UK to open new refugee resettlement routes for Afghan women and Palestinians
Exclusive: Move by Shabana Mahmood comes after closure of Afghan scheme last year but experts say numbers too small to deter Channel crossings
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Immigration Bot @immigrationbot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The House of Commons Library published a briefing on 24 September 2026 on the United Kingdom aid budget and support for refugees in the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2026. It said the United Kingdom spent 18% of its aid budget supporting refugees in the United Kingdom in 2025.
updates.freemovement.org.uk
The UK aid budget and support for refugees in the UK, 2022 to 2026
Commons Library briefing, 24 Sep 2026. The UK spent 18% of its aid budget supporting refugees in the UK in 2025. Via Free Movement's Immigration Updates Dashboard.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Local management information indicates that from the introduction of the [EU Settlement Scheme] in 2018 to 30 June 2026, 1,473 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error".
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Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Interesting report by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee on how the Home Office managed to accidently delete a section of the immigration rules, and the workaround that highlights the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of the Home Secretary's powers publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5902/ld...
publications.parliament.uk
House of Lords - Twelfth Report - Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Citizenship tests are coming to Ireland, along with a longer residence period (eight years) before people qualify in the first place www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Updated this mostly to note that final decisions on the "earned settlement" policy of having migrants wait longer for permanent residence are coming "very soon", the Home Secretary says
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The transcript of the Home Secretary's answers to questions from MPs on 15 September has now been published (Q53 onward for immigration): committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A committee of MPs heard evidence on the Immigration and Asylum Bill this week. This is one important concern about the proposed new appeal system with non-lawyers as judges:
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Madeleine Sumption @msumption.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
How does immigration affect public finances? Is the OBR getting it right? Which migration policies are fiscally costly vs beneficial? Much enjoyed discussing all this - and my new book, "What is immigration policy for?" with @theifs.bsky.social on their excellent IFS Zooms In podcast
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Jasmine Quiller-Doust @jasminedoust.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Our reader survey is currently live and we’d love to hear from you. freemovement.org.uk/reader-surve...
freemovement.org.uk
The Free Movement reader survey 2026: how are we doing? - Free Movement
This week, we are running our sixth reader survey since we started surveying in 2013. We are very interested in what you think of Free Movement, and what you
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
'International students..."visa hoppers" and backpackers will be targeted under stricter rules announced by Australia...in a bid to curb immigration. Foreign students will no longer be able to bring their families with them and those who want to extend their stay must choose a higher qualification.
bbc.co.uk
Australia immigration crackdown: visas for international students and backpackers targeted
The government wants to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 people by 2028.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
PISA results suggest that “the UK will continue to have a ‘small boats‘ issue. Why on earth would a migrant - genuine refugee or not - want to stop in France? We offer them and their children a bright future, and France does not” timleunig.substack.com/p/pisa?r=27b...
timleunig.substack.com
PISA
The education test, not the place in Italy
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"Staff told inspectors that Border Force gave priority to the management of queues over refusals casework and that they had experienced pressure from managers to grant passengers permission to enter the UK when they felt further examination was appropriate." www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
An inspection of refusals and cancellations of permission to enter the UK (September 2025 – February 2026)
This inspection report contains two recommendations.
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UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Chris Rowe: Requalifying Article 8: The Immigration and Asylum Bill ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/09/10/c...
ukconstitutionallaw.org
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Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
New tribunal stats are out this morning. Asylum appeals backlog is up but not by much - seems to have started to stabilise. Was 87,450 last quarter, is 90,341 this quarter www.gov.uk/government/s...
gov.uk
Tribunals statistics quarterly: April to June 2026
Type and volume of tribunal cases received, disposed of or outstanding. This also includes statistics on the Gender Recognition Certificate applied for and granted by HMCTS Gender Recognition Panel.
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Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
UPDATED BRIEFING: Public opinion has become less supportive of immigration recently, but the picture is nuanced, and the UK is still more positive than many European neighbours UK Public Opinion toward Immigration: Overall Attitudes and Level of Concern migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
UK Public Opinion toward Immigration: Overall Attitudes and Level of Concern - Migration Observatory
This briefing provides an overview of attitudes toward immigration in Britain.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I helped out with this project a little - thought it went well and this video gives a good sense of how much the participants got into it on the day
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The Journal @thejournal.ie · 07/09/2026
Planned changes to the requirements for Irish citizenship will ensure that new citizens have an 'understanding' of Ireland and the country's values, the Taoiseach said today jrnl.ie/7154915
jrnl.ie
Citizenship rules to be tightened with longer residency and language test
Those seeking Irish citizenship will be required be resident in the country for eight years, up from the current five.
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Demos @demos-uk.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
📣 New Report | Your Voice on #Immigration What happens if you give people the time, information and space to discuss one of the most contested issues in British politics? 🗣️ ‘Your Voice on Immigration’ did just that. demos.co.uk/research/you...
demos.co.uk
Your Voice on Immigration: Report on the findings from public deliberation on work-related immigration for the home affairs committee
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
UN Refugee Agency says it's "concerned that the limitations on the interpretation of Article 8 ECHR proposed in the Bill could further restrict an important avenue through which refugee families may seek to preserve family unity". www.unhcr.org/uk/media/unh...
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
"Today, the gangs are quoting up to €2,000 (£1,700) per person. It used to be around €1,300 just a year ago. Their passengers also have to now pay in cash, to ensure commitment" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Channel smuggling gangs resort to 'mega-dinghies' as crackdown limits small boat supply
Once-rival criminal groups are being forced to work together because of a shortage of small boats, a BBC investigation has found.
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James Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
More main applicant long-term work visas for entry now granted to EU nationals than to South Asians and Africans combined. This is including health and care.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Potentially quite a significant change for people who've lost their work visa sponsorship because of employer misconduct, although tied to formal recognition through the modern slavery system questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
"A new specialist unit of 75 officers dedicated to tackling small boat crossings is now active in Northern France, taking the total number of officers to nearly 1050" www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
‘Working alongside Europe is the key to driving a stronger Britain’- Burnham
The Prime Minister will host President Macron in Downing Street today (Thursday 3 September) to discuss shared challenges facing both countries.
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Free Movement @freemovement.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Long thread alert 🧵 1. The High Court has upheld the Home Secretary's student visa brake, dismissing a judicial review brought by seven women from Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Sudan who had secured university places and scholarships before the measure took effect.
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Second Reading @commonslibrary.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Statistics on small boat Channel crossings commonslibrary.parliament.uk/resear…
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A striking parliamentary question
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Huh: the Home Office says “no change has been made to the requirements needed to travel to the UK. Requiring a passport to provide this information was a decision made by the ferry companies operating international routes between Ireland and Britain" www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/...
telegraph.co.uk
New barriers in Common Travel Area as passport now required for Britain-Ireland ferry
Passengers must provide an official government document to cross between the two countries for the first time in over 100 years
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
"The Home Office told inspectors that staff used 23 systems to identify and manage overstayers, but during the onsite phase of this inspection, inspectors were made aware of more systems"🫠 www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
An inspection of overstayers (March – October 2025)
This inspection report contains five recommendations.
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Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
📊New migration stats: asylum applications are down, while UK citizenship applications hit a record high. 315,000+ applied in the year to June 2026 (+17%). Non-EU nationals drove the numbers, but growth was sharper among EU nationals. Check our analysis: migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press/citize...
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
Citizenship applications hit new record while asylum applications fall - Migration Observatory
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Electronic Immigration Network @ein-website.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Breaking the human smuggling policy trap globalinitiative.net/analysis/bre... "This note argues that the Channel is not an anomaly but the current British manifestation of a pattern that recurs wherever a high-demand migration corridor meets a hardened border. That pattern is a policy trap."
globalinitiative.net
Breaking the human smuggling policy trap
This policy note explains how the UK can break the human smuggling policy trap through enforcement, legal routes, returns and international cooperation.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
"The change comes at the behest of the UK Border Force to verify the 'accuracy and integrity' of passenger data before boarding". www.thejournal.ie/ireland-uk-f...
thejournal.ie
Ferry passengers travelling between Ireland and the UK will now need a passport
Previously, some ferry lines allowed passengers to use other forms of valid ID.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
"Mahmood also revealed she was in talks with France to make the one-in, one-out deal permanent after the current temporary pilot expires in October." www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Shabana Mahmood: I’ll spread asylum housing more ‘fairly’ around UK
The home secretary says she wants a ‘mixed model’ including military bases and HMOs as the government prepares to house more migrants in wealthy areas
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BAILII (The British and Irish Legal Information Institute) @bailii.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
BAILII now includes UK First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber decisions: UKFTT (IAC). They can be found in our lists of: - Recent Additions: www.bailii.org/recent-acces... - Recent Decisions: www.bailii.org/recent-decis... #law #UKTribunals #ImmigrationandAsylum #immigration
BAILII 25th anniversary logo and spines of 'law cases' books
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Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Policy Exchange presents: The Home Secretary Interviews. Exclusive new in-depth interviews with 14 Home Secretaries 1990 - 2024. Read them in their own words on policing, immigration, protest and more from May, Blunkett, Straw, Howard, Braverman, Clarke... Full report ⬇️
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
“The available data suggest that non-citizens were more likely to be convicted or incarcerated for drug offences and less likely for violent offences, compared to British citizens.” migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
Migrants and crime in the UK - Migration Observatory
This briefing provides the available evidence on migration and crime in the UK.
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Stefano Fella @stefanofella.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Our commons Library research briefing on the Ceuta migrant crossings and European reaction
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Ben Brindle @benbrindle.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Which sports use International Sportsperson visas? Cricket clubs, by quite some distance. They made up 57% of sponsors in the year ending June 2025. Note that this is the number of organisations sponsoring, not the number of IS visas granted. The Home Office wouldn't give me that info.
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
"More deprived areas tend to have more supported asylum seekers. The most deprived tenth of local authorities have, on average, 30 asylum seekers per 10,000 residents, the least deprived tenth fewer than four". spectator.com/article/wher...
spectator.com
Where do asylum seekers actually live in Britain?
More deprived areas tend to have more asylum seekers. The most deprived tenth of local authorities have 30 per 10,000 residents
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Immigration Bot @immigrationbot.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Student Visa Brake barring nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan was lawful. Claimants argued irrationality and discriminatory impact on women. Court held immigration rules are border control, not a vehicle for addressing overseas discrimination.
updates.freemovement.org.uk
Shahira Sadat & Ors, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 2157 (Admin)
High Court (Administrative Court), decided 12 August 2026. Via Free Movement's Immigration Updates Dashboard.
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Administrative Court Blog @admincourtblog.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
A turning point in Article 8 reunification cases administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2026/08/11/a...
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
A turning point in Article 8 reunification cases
The Court of Appeal has continued to emphasise the strictness of the approach which should be applied by courts and tribunals when individuals challenge immigration decisions by relying on their ri…
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CJ McKinney @cjmckinney.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A colleague reminds me that the Reform Party policy of paying other countries to take prisoners from the UK, as announced today, was also Conservative government policy: www.gov.uk/government/n.... I don't think Alex Chalk's announcement got as much attention.
gov.uk
Foreign prison rental to ensure public protection
The Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has announced new measures that will allow the government to rent prison cells overseas to ensure dangerous offenders can be locked up for longer.
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