Chai Patel
@chaipatel.net
Migration, human rights, public law. He/him.
Reposted by Chai Patel
The EAT has allowed an appeal by Latin American seasonal farm workers to proceed, after it was struck out for missing a tribunal deadline. The workers, supported by @uvwunion.bsky.social , argued it is unjust and irrational to expect undocumented workers in crisis to navigate complex legal systems
January 11, 2026 at 11:34 AM
The EAT has allowed an appeal by Latin American seasonal farm workers to proceed, after it was struck out for missing a tribunal deadline. The workers, supported by @uvwunion.bsky.social , argued it is unjust and irrational to expect undocumented workers in crisis to navigate complex legal systems
Reposted by Chai Patel
I BEG every smug commentator who praised Mahmood for doing the “tough but necessary thing” to read this.
All the disadvantages of plummeting immigration for the economy & public services, for NO POLITICAL GAIN.
Labour in DESPERATE need of a 180 change of course on immigration
All the disadvantages of plummeting immigration for the economy & public services, for NO POLITICAL GAIN.
Labour in DESPERATE need of a 180 change of course on immigration
January 11, 2026 at 10:56 AM
I BEG every smug commentator who praised Mahmood for doing the “tough but necessary thing” to read this.
All the disadvantages of plummeting immigration for the economy & public services, for NO POLITICAL GAIN.
Labour in DESPERATE need of a 180 change of course on immigration
All the disadvantages of plummeting immigration for the economy & public services, for NO POLITICAL GAIN.
Labour in DESPERATE need of a 180 change of course on immigration
Reposted by Chai Patel
well well well
AI layoffs are looking more and more like corporate fiction that's masking a darker reality, Oxford Economics suggests | Fortune
"Firms don't appear to be replacing workers with AI on a significant scale," the firm said. It suspects some are trying to "dress up layoffs" as good news.
fortune.com
January 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
well well well
Reposted by Chai Patel
Some musing from me on AI and publishing. I’m surprised our page views have gone up not down over the last year. There’s surely going to be huge upheaval in the online content space and in how potential customers find lawyers - if they still do…
January 10, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Some musing from me on AI and publishing. I’m surprised our page views have gone up not down over the last year. There’s surely going to be huge upheaval in the online content space and in how potential customers find lawyers - if they still do…
Reposted by Chai Patel
Anecdotally, I feel like the quality of Home Office country reports has shifted since the notorious Rwanda one back in 2022, when there was obvious political interference. The executive summaries increasingly look political and unjustified by the evidence.
If you wonder why so many people get refused asylum and have to appeal, one reason is that the Home Office do weaselly things like this with the evidence about risks on return, with the apparent intention of encouraging its staff to refuse entirely meritorious claims
From last week: Concerns raised about changes to Home Office’s country evidence on Pakistan for LGBT+ people | Katherine Soroya
January 9, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Anecdotally, I feel like the quality of Home Office country reports has shifted since the notorious Rwanda one back in 2022, when there was obvious political interference. The executive summaries increasingly look political and unjustified by the evidence.
Reposted by Chai Patel
Reposted by Chai Patel
If you wonder why so many people get refused asylum and have to appeal, one reason is that the Home Office do weaselly things like this with the evidence about risks on return, with the apparent intention of encouraging its staff to refuse entirely meritorious claims
From last week: Concerns raised about changes to Home Office’s country evidence on Pakistan for LGBT+ people | Katherine Soroya
Concerns raised about changes to Home Office's country evidence on Pakistan for LGBT+ people - Free Movement
The Home Office has published an updated country policy and information note known as a ‘CPIN’ on Pakistan and sexual orientation and gender identity claims.
freemovement.org.uk
January 9, 2026 at 10:40 AM
If you wonder why so many people get refused asylum and have to appeal, one reason is that the Home Office do weaselly things like this with the evidence about risks on return, with the apparent intention of encouraging its staff to refuse entirely meritorious claims
Reposted by Chai Patel
New from Free Movement: Free Movement review of 2025 | Colin Yeo freemovement.org.uk/free-movemen...
Free Movement review of 2025 - Free Movement
It has become an end-of-year tradition, for good or ill, for me to review what’s been going on in the immigration law world, look ahead and share a little of
freemovement.org.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:24 AM
New from Free Movement: Free Movement review of 2025 | Colin Yeo freemovement.org.uk/free-movemen...
Reposted by Chai Patel
British woman left stranded in Hungary after the Home Office refuse to let her bring 13-year-old niece to the UK.
The girl, who was abandoned by her parents, could now end up in state care, following the Home Office's decision
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
The girl, who was abandoned by her parents, could now end up in state care, following the Home Office's decision
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
British Woman Left 'Stranded' in Hungary After Home Office Refuse to Let Her Bring Niece to the UK
The 13-year-old girl, who she was given parental responsibility over after being abandoned by her parents, could be sent into state care because of the Home Office's decision
bylinetimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:34 AM
British woman left stranded in Hungary after the Home Office refuse to let her bring 13-year-old niece to the UK.
The girl, who was abandoned by her parents, could now end up in state care, following the Home Office's decision
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
The girl, who was abandoned by her parents, could now end up in state care, following the Home Office's decision
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
Reposted by Chai Patel
Strong stuff from the Chancellor 💪🏻 One slight prob: her gov's NRPF policy (which restricts access to MOST benefits not just UC & which they're planning to extend to those w/ ILR) does precisely this: discriminates between children based on where parents are from www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
January 8, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Strong stuff from the Chancellor 💪🏻 One slight prob: her gov's NRPF policy (which restricts access to MOST benefits not just UC & which they're planning to extend to those w/ ILR) does precisely this: discriminates between children based on where parents are from www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Chai Patel
So sad to hear about this. Richard was one of the first people I met and worked with on migration and he was such a lovely person. Donate to Hummingbird Project in his memory, they are a brilliant organisation.
Such a dear and brilliant colleague lost. Donations accepted here in memory of Richard Williams chuffed.org/project/1638...
In Memory of Richard Williams
We lost Richard Williams, a dear friend and Hummingbird, over Christmas.
chuffed.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
So sad to hear about this. Richard was one of the first people I met and worked with on migration and he was such a lovely person. Donate to Hummingbird Project in his memory, they are a brilliant organisation.
It is very simple. One has simply to attain balance between the five humours: blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile, and slop.
OpenAI’s determination to find new ways to kill people is quite something www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records
But it’s ‘not intended for diagnosis or treatment.’
www.theverge.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:28 PM
It is very simple. One has simply to attain balance between the five humours: blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile, and slop.
Reposted by Chai Patel
A longer post from me to start the year: the Dutch are panicking. Their digital ID system will soon fall under the control of an American company and far-reaching US government powers.
Why is that such a problem? And what does it mean for the UK?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Why is that such a problem? And what does it mean for the UK?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Digital ID, big tech and the Dutch dilemma
A planned US takeover of critical infrastructure raises troubling questions
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:04 AM
A longer post from me to start the year: the Dutch are panicking. Their digital ID system will soon fall under the control of an American company and far-reaching US government powers.
Why is that such a problem? And what does it mean for the UK?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Why is that such a problem? And what does it mean for the UK?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Reposted by Chai Patel
Last year I FOI -d the UK Govt to ask if they'd assessed whether continued use of X as a formal communications channel was appropriate.
Responding in Oct, DSIT said: no, try asking the Cabinet Office.
Responding in Nov, the Cabinet Office said: no, try asking DSIT.
Responding in Oct, DSIT said: no, try asking the Cabinet Office.
Responding in Nov, the Cabinet Office said: no, try asking DSIT.
January 5, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Last year I FOI -d the UK Govt to ask if they'd assessed whether continued use of X as a formal communications channel was appropriate.
Responding in Oct, DSIT said: no, try asking the Cabinet Office.
Responding in Nov, the Cabinet Office said: no, try asking DSIT.
Responding in Oct, DSIT said: no, try asking the Cabinet Office.
Responding in Nov, the Cabinet Office said: no, try asking DSIT.
Reposted by Chai Patel
From today, new immigration offences give the UK government even more power to criminalise and imprison people crossing the Channel in dinghies. Read an overview of the changes from @vickytaylor.bsky.social ⤵️
blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
January 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
From today, new immigration offences give the UK government even more power to criminalise and imprison people crossing the Channel in dinghies. Read an overview of the changes from @vickytaylor.bsky.social ⤵️
blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
Reposted by Chai Patel
I know RUK ignores NI, but surely there should be more public horror and indignation about the fact that not 6 months ago part of the UK saw a pogrom that drove an ethnic group (the Roma) out of a sizeable town
Ballymena riots six months on: fear, formidable obstacles and official silence
Ballymena riots six months on: fear, formidable obstacles and official silence
After attacks on immigrants’ homes, groups patrol the streets to intimidate potential victims, who try to keep a low profile
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:51 PM
I know RUK ignores NI, but surely there should be more public horror and indignation about the fact that not 6 months ago part of the UK saw a pogrom that drove an ethnic group (the Roma) out of a sizeable town
Reposted by Chai Patel
you’re right! it feels mostly awful to Go Online™, these days. the internet in a sad state, for reason after reason after reason. but there is a way to fix it; to trade the voidful howling for a quiet & joyful song.
here’s how to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
here’s how to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
A Website To End All Websites | Henry From Online
How to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
henry.codes
January 1, 2026 at 7:27 PM
you’re right! it feels mostly awful to Go Online™, these days. the internet in a sad state, for reason after reason after reason. but there is a way to fix it; to trade the voidful howling for a quiet & joyful song.
here’s how to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
here’s how to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
Reposted by Chai Patel
2025 in the UK in a nutshell, folks: some of the country's most odious racists, who also never shut up about free speech & the right to offend, calling for a man from a racialised minority to have his citizenship cancelled over alleged racist speech, while the media dutifully jots it all down
Home secretary urged to strip activist of British citizenship
Shabana Mahmood is facing growing calls to revoke the citizenship of British-Egyptian dual national Alaa Abdel Fattah after the emergence of social media posts.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 29, 2025 at 12:44 PM
2025 in the UK in a nutshell, folks: some of the country's most odious racists, who also never shut up about free speech & the right to offend, calling for a man from a racialised minority to have his citizenship cancelled over alleged racist speech, while the media dutifully jots it all down
Reposted by Chai Patel
Not enough people are paying attention to the schisms in Anglicanism, a religion that largely hides in plain sight in the UK. But the ugliness exposed by the appointment of the new Archbish — the hostility of parishes who were previously still opting out of women priests — will only get worse.
Tommy Robinson carol service is really just the beginning of the CoE’s coming crisis, in which they’re going to have to figure out what to do about their former congregations becoming radicalised into a version of the faith that is aggressive, disavows empathy and has contempt for the weak
December 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Not enough people are paying attention to the schisms in Anglicanism, a religion that largely hides in plain sight in the UK. But the ugliness exposed by the appointment of the new Archbish — the hostility of parishes who were previously still opting out of women priests — will only get worse.
Reposted by Chai Patel
Tommy Robinson carol service is really just the beginning of the CoE’s coming crisis, in which they’re going to have to figure out what to do about their former congregations becoming radicalised into a version of the faith that is aggressive, disavows empathy and has contempt for the weak
December 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Tommy Robinson carol service is really just the beginning of the CoE’s coming crisis, in which they’re going to have to figure out what to do about their former congregations becoming radicalised into a version of the faith that is aggressive, disavows empathy and has contempt for the weak
Reposted by Chai Patel
🎺🎺The @CalaisAppeal fundraiser just hit £20,000!!!!!🥳🤩🤩
This is amazing! They’re so close to reaching their goal 😭🙏🥰
Thank you so much everyone, let’s make it happen for them!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
This is amazing! They’re so close to reaching their goal 😭🙏🥰
Thank you so much everyone, let’s make it happen for them!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
December 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
🎺🎺The @CalaisAppeal fundraiser just hit £20,000!!!!!🥳🤩🤩
This is amazing! They’re so close to reaching their goal 😭🙏🥰
Thank you so much everyone, let’s make it happen for them!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
This is amazing! They’re so close to reaching their goal 😭🙏🥰
Thank you so much everyone, let’s make it happen for them!
www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Reposted by Chai Patel
Everyone sat around talking about how these people were incredibly stupid and then they managed to successfully implement large swathes of the plan that they all told us they were going to execute and you really have to wonder who is the stupid in this equation
December 22, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Everyone sat around talking about how these people were incredibly stupid and then they managed to successfully implement large swathes of the plan that they all told us they were going to execute and you really have to wonder who is the stupid in this equation
Reposted by Chai Patel
This is wholly unsurprising but absolutely appalling. This is like concluding a coin always lands on heads because every time it lands on tails you discard the result.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
This is wholly unsurprising but absolutely appalling. This is like concluding a coin always lands on heads because every time it lands on tails you discard the result.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
Reposted by Chai Patel
The immigration hostile environment encourages overzealous over enforcement because there is no penalty in that direction. But there are severe penalties for under enforcement.
Universities have an extreme fear of the Home Office and have created a nightmarish administrative apparatus to implement the government’s hostile environment.
The outcome is that overseas students futures can be crushed for the most trivial of administrative errors.
The outcome is that overseas students futures can be crushed for the most trivial of administrative errors.
New from Free Movement: Court declares University’s failure to rescind its withdrawal of sponsorship as unlawful | Ben Maitland freemovement.org.uk/court-declar...
December 22, 2025 at 8:57 AM
The immigration hostile environment encourages overzealous over enforcement because there is no penalty in that direction. But there are severe penalties for under enforcement.
Reposted by Chai Patel
🤩More than £16,000 raised now for @calaisappeal.bsky.social!!
You guys are so amazing!
Please do share the link with anybody who might be able to donate this Christmas to help the people freezing at our border 🥰🥰🥰🥰
You guys are so amazing!
Please do share the link with anybody who might be able to donate this Christmas to help the people freezing at our border 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Here’s the link to donate 🥰🥰
Thank you so much to anybody who can give a little or even just share this appeal.
Together we can make love win! ❤️ www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Thank you so much to anybody who can give a little or even just share this appeal.
Together we can make love win! ❤️ www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Together in Solidarity
At Calais Appeal, we come together with varied areas of expertise to provide essential support. We are committed to continuing this essential network of solidarity, but we need your support to do so.
www.justgiving.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
🤩More than £16,000 raised now for @calaisappeal.bsky.social!!
You guys are so amazing!
Please do share the link with anybody who might be able to donate this Christmas to help the people freezing at our border 🥰🥰🥰🥰
You guys are so amazing!
Please do share the link with anybody who might be able to donate this Christmas to help the people freezing at our border 🥰🥰🥰🥰