Nationality and Borders Bill — Clause 11 — Differential Treatment of Refugees — Impact — 20 Apr 2022 at 17:48
The majority of MPs voted not to guarantee treating refugees who have not "come to the United Kingdom directly from a country or territory where their life or freedom was threatened" and "presented themselves without delay to the authorities" differently from those who have will not impact a refugee's family unity or result in them being returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom
MPs were considering the Nationality and Borders Bill.[1][2][3]
The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:
- That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 6B.
Lords amendment 5B stated[6]:
- Page 14, line 7, leave out subsections (5) to (8) and insert—
- “(5) The Secretary of State must make provision within the Immigration Rules to—
- (a) guarantee Group 1 and Group 2 refugees all of their rights under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and international law, without distinction;
- (b) ensure that the classification of a refugee as a Group 1 or a Group 2 refugee does not affect the ability to maintain the unity of that person’s family.”
Had it not been rejected this amendment would have impacted Clause 11 of the Bill[2][3] titled: Differential treatment of refugees which provided for treating those who have come to the UK directly from a country or territory where their life or freedom was threatened and presented themselves without delay to the authorities from others.
In relation to the 1951 convention: "The core principle is non-refoulement, which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom."[7]
The 1967 protocol provides for co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.[8]
--
- [1] Parliament's webpage on the Nationality and Borders Bill, Parliament.uk
- [2] Nationality and Borders Bill, as brought to the House of Lords, from the Commons, on 9 December 2021, Parliament.uk
- [3] Explanatory notes to the Nationality and Borders Bill, as brought to the House of Lords, from the Commons, on 9 December 2021, Parliament.uk
- [4] Lords amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill 15 March 2022, Parliament.uk
- [5] Explanatory notes on Lords amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill 21 March 2022, Parliament.uk
- [6] Lords Message in connection with the Nationality and Borders Bill on 5 April 2022, Parliament.uk
- [7] 1951 Refugee Convention, UNHCR.org
- [8] 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, OHCHR.org
Party Summary
Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.
What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.
What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.
What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.
| Party | Majority (Aye) | Minority (No) | Both | Turnout |
| Alba | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Alliance | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Con | 300 (+2 tell) | 0 | 0 | 83.4% |
| DUP | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37.5% |
| Green | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Independent | 1 | 4 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Lab | 0 | 162 | 0 | 81.0% |
| LDem | 0 | 12 | 0 | 92.3% |
| PC | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
| SDLP | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
| SNP | 0 | 38 (+2 tell) | 0 | 88.9% |
| Total: | 304 | 224 | 0 | 82.9% |
Rebel Voters - sorted by name
MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division
Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote
| Name | Constituency | Party | Vote | |
| no rebellions | ||||