Motion for new Palestinian visa scheme tabled in UK parliament
MPs grill Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on 12 February 2025
Imran Mulla reports in Middle East Eye on 12 February 2025:
Independent MP Ayoub Khan has tabled a motion in parliament urging the British government to “urgently establish” a visa scheme for Palestinians with family ties in Britain.
The move comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday that the government would seek to prevent Palestinian refugees from living in the UK using a refugee scheme established for Ukrainians.
“Recognising the humanitarian crisis continuing to be faced by many Palestinians,” Khan’s motion reads, “it is imperative that the UK underscores its commitment to humanitarian aid and support for those affected by conflict by facilitating their ability to reunite with families already residing in Britain.”
Starmer insisted in parliament that the Home Office will shut a “legal loophole” that allowed a Palestinian refugee family from Gaza to stay in the UK.
This came after it emerged that a judge ruled six Palestinians from Gaza – a mother, a father and four children – could remain in Britain using the Ukraine Family Scheme, a visa programme originally established for Ukranian refugees fleeing the war following Russia’s invasion.
The opposition Conservative Party slammed the decision, with party leader Kemi Badenoch declaring in parliament on Wednesday that it “cannot be allowed to stand”. Starmer replied: “I do not agree with the decision. She is right, it is the wrong decision.”
He added that “the home secretary has already got her team working on closing the loophole. We don’t need to wait for that. We’re getting on with that because we’re taking control.”
The Home Office warned that the legal decision would “open the floodgates for all those in conflict zones with family in the UK” to come to Britain.
‘Unjust and arbitrary barriers’
The Home Office refused an initial application by the Palestinian family in May last year, but in September an immigration tribunal ruled in their favour.