Immigration and Home Affairs

The Government opened the debate by outlining the ambitious agenda set out in the King's Speech. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, welcomed the new ministerial team and expressed optimism about working across the House to address key issues such as public safety, border security, and tackling violence against women and girls. She highlighted plans to restore neighbourhood policing, introduce new laws to get dangerous weapons off the streets, and provide better support for victims of crime. In response, the shadow Home Secretary, James Cleverly, was critical of the Government's early actions, particularly the decision to cancel the Rwanda asylum partnership. He accused the Government of creating a "diplomatic row" and effectively offering an "amnesty" for illegal migrants. Cleverly defended the record of the previous Conservative government, claiming they had been effective in tackling people smuggling gangs and reducing net migration. The debate that followed saw a wide range of topics discussed by new and returning MPs from across the political spectrum. Many new members used their maiden speeches to highlight the priorities and challenges facing their local constituencies, from infrastructure and housing to economic regeneration and tackling poverty. Several speakers welcomed the Government's plans to reform the criminal justice system, including measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, retail crime and knife crime. However, some Conservative members expressed concern about the Government's approach to sentencing and prison reform, arguing that punishment and deterrence should be the priority. Immigration and border security emerged as a key area of contention, with the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage making a controversial contribution criticising the Government's stance. In contrast, other members emphasised the positive contributions of immigrants and called for a more humane and pragmatic approach to asylum and migration. The debate also covered a range of other policy areas outlined in the King's Speech, such as energy, housing, workers' rights, and measures to tackle child poverty. While there was broad support for the Government's ambitious agenda, some members raised concerns about the deliverability and affordability of certain proposals. Overall, the debate reflected the significant political shift following the Labour party's landslide election victory, with the new Government seeking to rapidly implement its programme of reform, while facing robust scrutiny and challenge from the Opposition benches.