The “hostile environment” mission started in earnest in December 2012, with an inter-ministerial group set up on Migrant Access To Benefits And Public Services (we called it MATBAPS)
Right from the start, Theresa May’s mission was to make it systematically difficult to get by without papers.
At no point was evidence presented on the scale or importance of abuse; we were just repeatedly told it was widespread.
Initial terms of reference included looking at: work checks; school registration; benefits checks; hospital and GP appointments; lettings; bank accounts and credit; driving licences and voting
What happens with task forces is they keep meeting and the civil service keep finding new things to discuss, regardless of merit
Home Office accepted the theory that emergency healthcare and schooling should be provided regardless of immigration status
But kept hammering DH and DfE with demands to check and pass on data. I saw endless papers claiming the system was “unsustainable in the current economic climate” but no evidence to back it up
David Laws stood his ground on schools. Nick Clegg got immigration checks by landlords down to a pilot. But then the Conservatives won a majority and there was no brake on their worst instincts.
A huge price has been paid by people who belong in Britain; and all because the Home Office lost touch with its humanity. I hope it finds a way to change.
