Politics from the New Statesman Labour has given up on integration
Nov 18, 2025
Anoush Chakelian, a political journalist focusing on immigration policy, and Rachel Cunliffe, a political commentator on migration impacts, join the discussion. They explore Labour's bold reforms to asylum laws and the implications for integration. Anoush highlights how these changes could alienate newcomers, fostering a two-tier society. Rachel discusses the government's contradictory stance on deterring arrivals while promoting integration. They also tackle the harsh realities faced by families, financial penalties, and the legacy of a hostile environment in Britain.
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Simplify Pathways To Settlement
- Design simpler, realistic pathways from asylum to settled status to avoid bureaucratic alienation.
- Reduce fees, assessments and repeated reviews that keep refugees separated from society.
Granted Refugees Still Face Precarity
- Refugees who already have been granted asylum still face long-term precarity under the proposals.
- Anoush warns this creates a tiered society that alienates people from neighbours, employers and careers.
Immigration And Demographic Challenge
- Demographic ageing makes immigration a tool to bolster the shrinking worker-to-pensioner ratio.
- Olly Dugmore suggests learning from pro-immigration models like Spain to support economic growth.