As the UK enters an election year, immigration is one of the top issues for voters. According to a YouGov poll in December 2023, one in five voters see immigration as the single most important issue facing the UK. When choosing the top three issues facing the country, 41% include immigration, putting it neck and neck with health and not far behind the economy.

Yet finding the right level of immigration is a complex issue, presenting challenges for both parties. It is a policy area where a government must seek to balance many competing priorities. The economic impact and value of immigration must be weighed alongside both humanitarian claims and implications for social cohesion. The issues around illegal immigration have proved even more politically intractable.

With the increasingly likely prospect of a Labour government after the next election, what are the prospective challenges and perhaps also opportunities for politicians in addressing the public’s concerns about immigration in a changed political landscape?

Dr Azeem Ibrahim OBE will present his research findings from a new report for the Henry Jackson Society on Labour’s prospective immigration policy, to launch a wider conversation with leading experts.

By kind invitation of Tim Loughton MP, The Henry Jackson Society is pleased to welcome you to a discussion with the distinguished experts about the findings of the new report.

Dr Azeem Ibrahim is the Director of Special Initiatives at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington DC, Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute US Army War College and a columnist at Foreign Policy Magazine. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge after which he completed fellowships at the universities of Oxford, Harvard and Yale.

Dr Ibrahim is the author of two seminal books: “The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Hidden Genocide”, (Hurst 2016) and “Radical Origins: Why We Are Losing the War Against Islamic Extremism” (Pegasus 2017).

Karl Williams is Research Director at the Centre for Policy Studies. A data specialist with a background in energy and seaborne trade research in the City, his work at the CPS has focused on political economy, energy and immigration. He was co-author (with Nick Timothy) of the paper ‘Stopping the Crossings’, which was published in 2022.

Dr Peter William Walsh is a Senior Researcher and Lecturer in Migration Studies at The Migration Observatory, University of Oxford. His research focuses on UK immigration policy and statistics, including asylum, illegal immigration, detention, and deportation.

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Prior to Parliament, Tim Loughton worked in the private sector as a fund manager in the City of London before becoming a Director at Fleming Private Asset Management. Tim was first elected to Parliament in 1997 as Member for East Worthing and Shoreham and has been re-elected in 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Tim has held various positions during his time in Parliament. He was Shadow Minister for Environment from 2000, Shadow Minister for Health and Children from 2001 (3) during the Conservative Party’s time in opposition. He was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Children and Families following the 2010 General Election until 2012 leading on several areas of successful reform in child protection, child sexual exploitation and adoption in particular.

From the backbenches, he continues to work vigorously in support of improving the life chances of children and young people and making sure their voices are heard in Parliament. Tim chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Conception to Age 2 (first 1001 days) which is undertaking important work to improve Government’s work in peri-natal mental health and strong attachment for young children. He sits on the influential Home Affairs Select Committee. Tim chairs a number of All-Party Parliamentary Groups covering a wide range of issues, such as Tibet, Archaeology, The British Museum, Armenia and Yemen, as well as co-chairs the APPG for Mindfulness and APPG for Children. Tim was also elected as Vice Chair of the All-Party Groups on Youth and Care Leavers.

In 2019 he successfully piloted one of the most comprehensive Private Member’s Bills through Parliament which instituted civil partnerships for opposite sex couples; gives power to coroners to investigate stillbirths and enables mothers to enter their name on marriage certificates for the first time.

As well as continuing as a Vice-President of the Local Government Association (LGA), Tim has recently joined the Conservatives Against Racism For Equality (CARFE) as an advisory Board Member.

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EVENT SUMMARY

The Henry Jackson Society was honoured to host the report launch featuring Dr. Azeem Ibrahim OBE, Karl Williams, and Dr Peter William Walsh, chaired by Tim Loughton MP. Tim started by discussing the current status of the migrant crisis, emphasizing the possibility of a labour government and the relevance of the report. Azeem stated how nuclear proliferation, climate change, and demographic changes will further exasperate migration to the UK and identified the key holes within labour’s immigration policy. He then identified three solutions: targeting genuine asylum seekers from the source, improving the lives of people where they are to disincentivize them from moving, and the Rwanda scheme. Karl highlighted how migration exacerbates the existing cost of living and housing crisis and that the majority of voters think immigration is a large issue. Peter brought to light the UK’s reliance on migrants in healthcare and emphasized that safe and legal routes would not reduce small boat arrivals. An increase in population globally versus resources were also raised. Possible solutions such as stopping the boats and adopting a more mature policy to cater to specific requirements such as the declining fertility rates were discussed at the end.

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