Strip Home Office of immigration powers

Responding to an Institute for Government's report highlighting "flaws in the immigration system", published today (Friday 8th March), Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said "The Institute for Government is right. The Windrush scandal and countless other failings show that the immigration system is not fit for purpose."

Ed added "Now Brexit risks another scandal on an even bigger scale, as millions of EU citizens are exposed to the poisonous combination of Home Office incompetence and Theresa May's hostile environment. The Liberal Democrats demand better. We will scrap the hostile environment and strip the Home Office of responsibility for immigration. Policymaking on work visas, student visas and asylum should be given to the Departments for Business, Education and International Development respectively - parts of Whitehall that aren't infected by the Home Office's toxic culture, and that understand far better the needs of our economy, our universities and refugees."