Refugees - Thangam Debbonaire

Thangam Debbonaire speaking at an event in Parliament in support of refugees.

Refugees are people who have been displaced from their country due to war, persecution, or natural disaster. Since I was elected one of my priorities is to make sure the UK is taking in its share of refugees and adequately supporting them when they are here.

From 2016 to 2020, I chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees and campaigned for legal changes in line with the recommendations made by the APPG’s Refugees Welcome? Inquiry. These include English language classes, access to the labour market, better support for people when their refugee status is confirmed and legal changes to help child refugees join family members in the UK.

My latest work on this issue

COVID-19, immigration and asylum

The COVID-19 crisis has had a profound effect on the way people move around the world and relations between countries. As chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Refugees, I wrote a joint letter with Kate Green MP (Chair, APPG Immigration) to the Home Secretary.

Urgent situation on Turkish-Greek border and refugee crisis in Greece

Today in the House of Commons I and other MPs questioned the Foreign Secretary about the Turkish-Greek border and the refugee crisis in Greece. The situation in the camps in Greece and along the Turkish-Greek border has reached crisis point. Tens of thousands of refugees remain stuck on the Turkish-Greek…

Minister agrees to look again at refugee ‘move on’ period

Yesterday I led a Parliamentary debate on giving people fleeing war and persecution a better start in the UK. Claiming asylum in the UK can take many months. But when refugees’ status is officially recognised, a gap in the law can often force refugees into homelessness and destitution. As soon…

Government votes down child refugee protections in EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill

As Shadow Brexit Minister, yesterday I defended five crucial Lord Amendments to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB). These changes were important. One amendment would have made it easier for unaccompanied child refugees to join family members in the UK, while another would have made life easier for EU citizens…

My work to support refugees is included in Labour’s manifesto

During my four years as an MP, I have been the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees. As chair, I set up the Parliamentary enquiry ‘Refugees Welcome?’ evaluating the experience of new refugees in the UK. From that enquiry, I was successful in persuading government to follow…

Safe and legal routes for migration

On Wednesday 23 October, the Home Secretary made an urgent statement following the tragic discovery of 39 bodies in the back of a refrigerated lorry in Essex. In a sombre House of Commons, I highlighted the importance of more effective, safe, and legal routes for migration. The UK is one…

Refugees and the US troop withdrawal from northern Syria

On 8 October 2019 the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Dr Andrew Murrison made a statement on the US troop withdrawal from northern Syria. This US withdrawal and the subsequent Turkish offensive, aiming to push Kurdish forces from the border region, have drawn an international outcry. With…

The UK needs a firmer commitment to long-term refugee resettlement

Yesterday (Wednesday 2nd October 2019), in oral questions to the Secretary of State for International Development, I followed my set question – on government attempts to reduce the number of people who are forced to migrate – with a supplementary one. Because forced migration is often dangerous, I emphasised how…

Sri Lanka: How many refugees will the UK take?

Today in Parliament we have been debating the desperate situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Sri Lanka. Many of these people have previously fled violence and persecution in Pakistan and Afghanistan. After the shocking terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, these people are facing anti-Muslim persecution and once again running…

View all