The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment in the House
of Commons that would prevent the Government’s Immigration Bill
from progressing.
The party is opposing the Conservatives’ plans to end free
movement at the end of the year, with Home Affairs Spokesperson
arguing that, during the
coronavirus crisis, “we should be celebrating the enormous
contributions that workers from all over the world make to our
NHS, social care and across our society.”
The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal)
Bill, which would end EU free movement, will be debated in the
House of Commons on Monday. The Liberal Democrat amendment would
refuse to grant the Bill its Second Reading, stopping it from
becoming law.
The “reasoned amendment” sets out the party’s opposition to the
Bill – including its failure to fully guarantee the rights of EU
citizens already living in the UK, something repeatedly promised to do. It
also criticises the Government for failing to set out “an
immigration system to replace free movement that would allow
businesses and public services to recruit the workers they
need”.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson , who tabled the
amendment, said:
“It is hard to believe that in the midst of the coronavirus
pandemic, the Conservatives are still pressing ahead with their
destructive plans.
“Now more than ever, we should be celebrating the enormous
contributions that workers from all over the world make to our
NHS, social care and across our society. may consider care workers to be
‘low skilled’, but they are on the front lines protecting us and
our loved ones every single day.
“If the Conservatives go ahead with these plans, they will deal a
massive new blow to the NHS and British businesses, just as the
economy is beginning to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
“Liberal Democrats are opposing this Bill and arguing instead for
a fair, effective and compassionate immigration system that works
for our economy and treats everyone with the dignity they
deserve.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The full text of the Liberal Democrat amendment on the House of
Commons Order
Paper for Monday is as follows:
That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the
Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal)
Bill because the Bill fails to secure the rights of British
citizens to live, work and study in other EU Member States and
the rights of EU citizens to do likewise in the UK, fails to
fully guarantee the rights of British citizens across the EU and
of EU citizens already in the UK, fails to establish an
immigration system to replace free movement that would allow
businesses and public services to recruit the workers they need,
contains no provisions to dismantle the hostile environment or to
make the immigration system simpler, fairer and more
compassionate, and denies parliamentary sovereignty by granting
excessive powers to the Government to make fundamental changes to
the immigration system without primary legislation.
