World Immigration News

Nishiyama Immigration Service
> World Immigration News

Why the UK’s toughest immigration voices are often politicians of colour

Release Date
2026-01-30
Media
ALJAZEERA
Summary
The article examines a growing pattern in British politics in which ethnic minority politicians play a prominent role in advancing tougher immigration policies. It begins with former Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s remark that his own parents would not qualify to enter the UK under today’s immigration rules, highlighting his opposition to admitting unskilled workers and those without English proficiency, and his support for reducing immigration and prioritizing skilled migrants.

This stance is not exceptional. Since 2018, the position of home secretary has frequently been held by ethnic minority politicians from both Conservative and Labour governments, including Javid, Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, and Shabana Mahmood. Despite differences in tone, each has promoted stricter border controls, asylum restrictions, and deportation measures.

The article argues that this pattern reflects a political strategy rather than personal background alone. Political parties rely on minority politicians as “reputational shields” when hardening immigration policy, helping to deflect accusations of racism in a policy area historically intertwined with race and belonging in the UK. When restrictive measures are led by ethnic minority figures, criticism is more easily framed as ideological disagreement rather than racial exclusion.

Under Conservative governments, this approach coincided with increasingly punitive rhetoric, even as overall immigration numbers rose. Under Labour, the appointment of Shabana Mahmood signals a similar strategic recalibration, as she advances major asylum reforms while framing them in terms of fairness, legality, and public confidence.

The article concludes that the prominence of politicians of colour in the UK’s immigration crackdown is not a paradox but a reflection of how representation is used to legitimize exclusionary policies, raising enduring questions about race, borders, political credibility, and belonging in contemporary Britain.
Tags
United Kingdom

News Articles including "United Kingdom"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
2026-02-12
'UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe(Sky News UK)
United Kingdom
2026-02-09
Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration reforms(Politics UK)
United Kingdom
2026-02-05
Mahmood defends immigration reforms amid Labour opposition(BBC)
United Kingdom
2026-02-02
Immigration Advice Authority annual report reveals ongoing decline in number of immigration advisers(Free Movement)
United Kingdom
2026-01-30
Why the UK’s toughest immigration voices are often politicians of colour(ALJAZEERA)
United Kingdom
2026-01-26
Why immigration policy is hard and how to make it better(UK in a Changing Europe)
United Kingdom
2026-01-22
People want 'fairness and compassion' on immigration - O'Neill(BBC)
United Kingdom
2026-01-20
Educational background key indicator of immigration views in UK, study finds(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2026-01-19
Home affairs select committee to hold --citizen-assembly style-- events on immigration(UK Parliament)
United Kingdom
2026-01-17
UK raises English-language bar and Immigration Skills Charge for sponsored workers(VisaHQ)
United Kingdom
2026-01-15
Limited further details on new asylum and immigration appeal system emerge(Free Movement)
United Kingdom
2026-01-13
English lessons shouldn’t be an immigration test – why the UK’s new policy risks deepening exclusion(The Conversation)
United Kingdom
2026-01-09
100 People Detained in UK Immigration Removal Centres Say They Are Subjected to Extreme Physical and Emotional Abuse(Byline Times)
United Kingdom
2026-01-07
Convictions following EU Treaty Rights immigration scam(GOV.UK)
United Kingdom
2026-01-04
WEEKEND READING: The 2025 Immigration White Paper and its impact on international teacher recruitment and retention in MFL and Physics(Higher Education Policy Institute)
United Kingdom
2026-01-02
UK Records Second-Highest Annual Small Boat Arrivals as Immigration Dominates Political Debate(Kurdistan24)
United Kingdom
2025-12-31
New visa rules for 2026: The UK immigration changes set for the new year(Yahoo News)
United Kingdom
2025-12-25
Immigration debate ‘dividing us’, incoming archbishop of Canterbury warns in Christmas sermon(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-12-22
Britain is blind on immigration statistics(New Statesman)
United Kingdom
2025-12-19
Track UK's latest migration numbers - including asylum, visas and small boats(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-12-14
Are asylum seekers really more likely to commit violent crime in the UK?(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-12-11
French aid groups complain of harassment by British anti-immigration vigilantes(RFI)
United Kingdom
2025-12-10
Dozens of MSPs have taken our pledge to detoxify the debate around immigration by speaking about refugees with dignity and compassion.(Scottish Refugee Council)
United Kingdom
2025-12-09
Questions we should actually be asking in UK citizenship test(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-12-08
UK private wealth immigration: the Budget and (Burges Salmon)
United Kingdom
2025-12-06
John Swinney defends immigration as Scotland faces rise of Reform(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-12-05
Rising racism blamed for collapse in number of foreign nurses coming to UK(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-12-04
Improving access to justice for a fairer immigration system(Bevan Foundation)
United Kingdom
2025-11-28
Why Immigration Policy Is Hard — a guide to breaking out of the ‘infernal circle’(Financial Times)
United Kingdom
2025-11-27
UK net migration figures fall in wake of tougher immigration policies(Pinsent Masons)
United Kingdom
2025-11-26
Excessive restraint in immigration detention centres ‘deeply concerning’, report finds(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-11-23
Britain's problem isn’t immigration. It’s a profound breakdown in trust(The Observer)
United Kingdom
2025-11-21
Mahmood’s Immigration Plan Breaks Labour’s Promises(Human Rights Watch)
United Kingdom
2025-11-20
Iranian Refugees on UK's Immigration Reforms: Those Outside Undeterred, Those Inside Anxious(IRANWIRE)
United Kingdom
2025-11-18
Britain toughens asylum policy in major overhaul as anti-immigration sentiment rises(Reuters)
United Kingdom
2025-11-14
Mahmood to unveil anti-migration measures modelled on Danish system(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-11-10
UK's Labour’s Immigration White Paper: Reviewed(Oxford Law Blogs)
United Kingdom
2025-11-08
UK seeks Danish inspiration to shake up immigration system(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-11-05
English language requirement changes under the Labour government(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-11-05
Should police reveal a suspect’s racial identity and immigration status in serious crimes?(The Conversation)
United Kingdom
2025-11-03
UK immigration fees and compliance: what employers need to know now(Dentons)
United Kingdom
2025-10-23
Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy(NHS Employers)
United Kingdom
2025-10-22
United Kingdom: Significant Immigration Fee Increases for Expedited Processing(Fragomen)
United Kingdom
2025-10-22
Government to seize millions from fake immigration ‘lawyers’(GOV.UK)
United Kingdom
2025-10-20
Further changes to the immigration system announced(NHS Employers)
United Kingdom
2025-10-16
UK Announces Significant Increase to Immigration Skills Charge and Reforms to Work Routes(Morgan Lewis)
United Kingdom
2025-10-15
Immigration and asylum: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Reform and Green positions(Institute for Government)
United Kingdom
2025-10-13
The UK is failing to protect vulnerable people in immigration detention: Medical Justice Annual Review (Oxford Law Blogs)
United Kingdom
2025-09-28
High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-09-27
UK plans compulsory digital ID as populist pressure over immigration rises(ALJAZEERA)
United Kingdom