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Top lawyers warn that Labour’s new immigration Bill will not effectively address the small boats crisis because it fails to tackle the core issue allowed by international law. Richard Ekins KC from Oxford University argues the bill merely “tinkers with the edges” without addressing the structural problem permitting illegal migrants to claim asylum in Britain. Dr Conor Casey from the University of Surrey adds that the proposed measures will not deter unlawful crossings in the Channel, while both experts express doubt about the effectiveness of restricting Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights as intended by the legislation.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In June, Labour's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled the Immigration and Asylum Bill aimed at curbing illegal immigration by restricting the use of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which protects individuals' right to private and family life in the UK. However, top lawyers warn that the bill fails to address the core issue of small boat migration. Richard Ekins, a professor of law at Oxford University and head of the Policy Exchange think-tank’s judicial power project, stated that the international Refugee Convention allows genuine refugees to be deported if they enter countries illegally. He argues that the new legislation merely "tinkers with the edges" without tackling the central problem, thereby not addressing the structural issues allowing illegal migrants to claim asylum in Britain.
Written for “UK Immigration Laws” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 10841: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-16
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Labour’s new immigration Bill ‘tinkers with the edges’ of the law and fails to address the ‘central problem’ of the small boats crisis, top lawyers have warned.
asserted
lawyers → see → crisis
MPs scrutinising Shabana Mahmood’s Immigration and Asylum Bill were told it ‘leaves untouched the central structural problem’ which allows illegal migrants to claim asylum in Britain.
uncertain
migrants → scrutinise → Britain
Richard Ekins KC, professor of law at Oxford University, said the international Refugee Convention allows even genuine refugees to be deported if they break immigration law by entering a country illegally.
asserted
they → say → country
‘The legislation simply doesn't address that feature of the problem.
asserted
legislation → address → problem
The measures it makes are simply going to tinker with the edges and aren't addressing the central problem,’ said Professor Ekins, who is also head of the Policy Exchange think-tank’s judicial power project.
asserted
who → make → project
‘There's a failure to recognise the protections we have as a country under the Refugee Convention, and to take action that would not place persons in danger and be removed to safe third states.
asserted
that → be → states
‘The Bill … leaves untouched the central structural problem.’
asserted
Bill → leave → problem
Dr Conor Casey, from the University of Surrey and a Policy Exchange fellow, added: ‘I don't see anything here that would deter in any way unlawful crossings in the Channel.’
asserted
that → add → Channel
The experts also cast doubt on Ms Mahmood’s proposals to restrict Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
asserted
experts → cast → Rights
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled the proposed new legislation in June
The legislation aims to stop illegal immigrants and foreign criminals using Article 8 – the ‘right to private and family life’ – remaining in the UK based on relationships with extended family members, and restricting it to immediate relatives only.
asserted
immigrants → unveil → relatives
Professor Ekins said the previous government attempted similar measures in 2014 which proved ‘much less effective than Parliament intended’.
asserted
Parliament → say → 2014
‘Now I think this legislation goes further and is to be welcomed in so doing, but that should be a cautionary tale.
asserted
that → think → ?
I think that there are risks of failure here,’ he said.
asserted
he → think → failure
Dr Casey added: ‘A lot of the wording in the Bill gives leeway for more flexible or generous interpretations for applicants.
asserted
lot → add → applicants
‘I can imagine some judges - not all, but some - reading these standards in a generous way, which would capture a large sweep of cases and defeat removals and deportations.
asserted
which → imagine → removals
The reforms could also lead to a ‘spike’ in the number of people facing deportation who instead bring different types of human rights claims under Article 3 of the ECHR, which protects against ill-treatment.
uncertain
which → lead → treatment
MPs on the Immigration and Asylum Bill Committee are examining the legislation, which was published in June.
asserted
which → examine → June
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