Keir Starmer is facing dissent within his party over a controversial new Home Office guidance that bars people arriving in Britain by “dangerous” means from ever claiming UK citizenship. The policy, quietly announced last week, has sparked a rebellion among Labour backbenchers who argue it “further punishes” those fleeing war and persecution.
Under the new rules, individuals who have arrived by small boats or hidden on lorries—and even those already granted indefinite leave to remain or settled status—will have their UK citizenship applications automatically turned down. The guidance, aimed at targeting those who enter the country illegally, has been condemned by human rights groups, who warn that it will render thousands of people “second-class citizens.”
Labour MP Nadia Whittome, the spearhead of a motion demanding a U-turn on the policy, told The Mirror:
“I think that this is a continuation of the performative cruelty that we saw in the last Conservative government. I think most Labour MPs are not in favour of this policy. That’s not what the Labour Party is meant to stand for. I think the policy is designed to win back Reform voters and it just won’t work.”
Whittome added, “No matter what these refugees do, they will never have that citizenship for the place they call home, just because they took the only route that was available to them.” Her motion, now backed by 13 other Labour MPs—including Diane Abbott, Olivia Blake, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Ian Byrne, Andy McDonald, Kim Johnson, and Clive Lewis—argues that the policy not only discriminates but also undermines efforts to integrate vulnerable communities.
Critics argue that the policy will discourage integration and deepen social divisions. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, expressed his concerns last week: “This change flies in the face of reason. The British public wants refugees who have been given safety in our country to integrate into and contribute to their new communities, so it makes no sense for the Government to erect more barriers.”
A Home Office spokesperson defended the move, stating, “There are already rules that can prevent those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship. This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.”
As pressure mounts from within the party and among human rights advocates, the debate over the future of this policy continues. The motion calling for a U-turn highlights a growing division on how to handle the complex issues surrounding immigration and citizenship, with critics warning that the new rules risk not only alienating some of Britain’s most vulnerable residents but also fueling political polarization at a time when unity is needed most.
