Thread by @jonfeatonby

In @UKHouseofLords, Peers now voting on whether to remove the powers on depriving people of their British Citizenship #NationalityAndBordersBill

@UKHouseofLords result imminent...

@UKHouseofLords Contents: 209

Not contents: 173

Peers vote to remove clause 9 from the bill.

Now moving on the asylum provisions in the bill. Starting off with an amendment focusing on compliance with the Refugee Convention.

Lord Judge, one of my favourite Peers to listen to, making important points.

now voting on the amendment to say that nothing in the bill authorises policies or decisions contrary to the refugee convention

Contents: 218

Not content: 140

Amendment on ensuring compliance with refugee convention passed.

The House of Lords are now moving on to clause 11. Clause 11 allows the Home Office to treat refugees different depending on how they arrive in the UK. It introduces the idea of group 1 and group 2 refugees, with group 2 refugees getting fewer rights.

the bill doesn't set out how refugees will be treated differently - that will come in the immigration rules (which get v.little/no parliamentary scrutiny). Instead it sets out some examples. Group 2 refugees could have reduced family reunion rights and no recourse to public funds

there are a few amendments down to amend clause 11, but also one to completely remove the clause. Expect the amendment to remove the clause will get voted on.

@BishopPaulB reading from the letter signed by more than 1,000 faith leaders to the Prime Minister urging a reconsideration of the #NationalityAndBordersBill theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/f…

in case of interest, the list of amendments being debated are here: bills.parliament.uk/publications/4…

The Lords are currently on amendments 25, 26, 27 and 28. Amendment 28 would remove clause 11 from the bill.

Clause 11 was debated at length at committee state in the Lords. Earlier today, a letter was published following up on that debate, on the subject of the impact of differentiated treatment on LGBTQI refugees data.parliament.uk/DepositedPaper…

that letter also says that the guidance for the implementation of clause 11 will be made public 2 months prior to these changes coming into force.

Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood is now speaking. He set out his opposition to clause 11 in an article for @timesredbox today thetimes.co.uk/article/nation…

Baroness Williams is now responding for the Home Office, so not to far away from votes now

Peers now voting on whether to remove clause 11.

it's almost certain which way this will go, but I won't tempt fate...

Contents: 204

Not contents: 126

The @UKHouseofLords has voted to delete clause 11

big margin opposing treating refugees differently depending how they entered the country.

The Peers are now breaking for dinner (and talking about health for a bit). Next up when they return to the bill in about 40 minutes - asylum accommodation centres.

Here’s the breakdown of the vote removing clause 11 votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Lords/Di…

This is the first day of three scheduled for report stage. The others are on 2nd and 8th March. Third reading will probably be the following week. After that, and changes made in the Lords have to go back to the commons for agreement (or disagreement)

the Lords are back debating the #NationalityAndBordersBill. @BishopPaulB leading an amendment on asylum accommodation centres. Not likely to be voted on, but key commitments being sort.

the bill doesn't actually introduce asylum accommodation centres. Instead, the Home Office are using previously unused powers in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. It means there is no detail in the bill on what these centers will look like.

For info, the way the Lords work is that they group amendments into issues and debate them together. These are the groupings for today.

We're currently on amendment 29. The next group is due to be the last one debated today.

Baroness Williams is replying now. Says she will provide more information to @BishopPaulB about the design of the accommodation centres when its available.

Now onto the last group due to be debated today. Starting with amendment 30, which would allow people seeking asylum to work if they've been waiting for a decision on their application for six months or more. Debate led by Baroness Stroud

the group also includes an amendment to require a six month target for deciding asylum claims. Expecting only the right to work amendment to be voted on.

at the end of 2021, 61,864 people had been waiting for six months or more for a decision on their asylum claim. This is is up from 29,233 two years earlier.

lots of cross-party support for this amendment. Lord Bethell is the third Conservative peer to speak in favour.

listening to this debate, I'm reminded of this excellent blog by @VOICESNetworkUK, setting out why letting people work is so important thevoicesnetwork.home.blog/2020/02/17/a-l…

the @UKHouseofLords is now voting on Baroness Stroud's amendment to allow people seeking asylum to work if they have been waiting for more than six months for a decision on their claim.

This will be the last vote of the day.

voting over (it's done electronically in the Lords at the moment). Just waiting for the announcement...

Contents: 112

Not Contents: 89

The @UKHouseofLords votes to allow people asylum to work if they've been waiting for 6 months for a decision on their asylum application.

#LiftTheBan

(it's a bit late in the day, hence the lower number of votes)

That makes five votes passed on the #NationalityAndBordersBill today:

- nationality rights for Chagos Islanders
- removing powers to deprive citizenship without notice
- compliance with the Refugee Convention

- removing powers to treat refugees differently depending on how they entered the UK
- right to work for people seeking asylum after 6 months.

Debate continues on Wednesday, on issues including offshoring of the asylum system, refugee family reunion and resettlement