Luke Piper
@lukepiper.bsky.social
Solicitor. Head of Immigration at the Work Rights Centre. All things U.K. immigration law / policy mainly. Yorkshireman in Bristol.
Pinned
Luke Piper
@lukepiper.bsky.social
· May 11
BREAKING: “We will be closing the care worker visa for overseas recruitment” - Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
Don’t we have a desperate shortage of care workers?
Don’t we have a desperate shortage of care workers?
The debate around care visas in the political space boils down to people saying stuff like this - we desperately need people.
It's a good soundbite but...
A significant surge in care visas were issued since 2020 in response to sector demand and yet the problem of shortage has persisted.
Why?
It's a good soundbite but...
A significant surge in care visas were issued since 2020 in response to sector demand and yet the problem of shortage has persisted.
Why?
Thoughts on this:
1. The government hasn't addressed temporary status on the basis of long lawful residence. This seems necessary and likely especially in children's context
2. There is legislation coming in spring King's Speech to define family life. This is an important opportunity.
1. The government hasn't addressed temporary status on the basis of long lawful residence. This seems necessary and likely especially in children's context
2. There is legislation coming in spring King's Speech to define family life. This is an important opportunity.
'The new rules won’t simply mean a longer wait for ILR. They will mean many people don’t qualify for ILR at all and have to leave the country'. @jamesbowes01.bsky.social on the government's earned settlement proposals ukandeu.ac.uk/remigration-...
Remigration by stealth? The government’s earned settlement proposals - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the potential impact of the UK government's proposed changes to its settlement schemes to both new migrants and migrants already in the UK.
ukandeu.ac.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Thoughts on this:
1. The government hasn't addressed temporary status on the basis of long lawful residence. This seems necessary and likely especially in children's context
2. There is legislation coming in spring King's Speech to define family life. This is an important opportunity.
1. The government hasn't addressed temporary status on the basis of long lawful residence. This seems necessary and likely especially in children's context
2. There is legislation coming in spring King's Speech to define family life. This is an important opportunity.
What a mess. Lots of folk are probably getting home from work with a view to doing this.
The consultation on the govenrment's earned settlement proposals is scheduled to close tonight, but this is what you get if you click on the "respond online" link now.
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
February 12, 2026 at 6:50 PM
What a mess. Lots of folk are probably getting home from work with a view to doing this.
Reposted by Luke Piper
The consultation on the govenrment's earned settlement proposals is scheduled to close tonight, but this is what you get if you click on the "respond online" link now.
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
February 12, 2026 at 6:44 PM
The consultation on the govenrment's earned settlement proposals is scheduled to close tonight, but this is what you get if you click on the "respond online" link now.
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Has the government closed it early?
This is the link if others want to try:
ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Luke Piper
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Another fall in visa applications in January. Skilled worker and health and care visa main applicants down to 2,600 probably because of tougher English language rules.
Student visa applications have seen a shocking fall from 28,700 in January 25 to 19,800 in January 26.
Another fall in visa applications in January. Skilled worker and health and care visa main applicants down to 2,600 probably because of tougher English language rules.
Student visa applications have seen a shocking fall from 28,700 in January 25 to 19,800 in January 26.
Monthly entry clearance visa applications, January 2026
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Another fall in visa applications in January. Skilled worker and health and care visa main applicants down to 2,600 probably because of tougher English language rules.
Student visa applications have seen a shocking fall from 28,700 in January 25 to 19,800 in January 26.
Another fall in visa applications in January. Skilled worker and health and care visa main applicants down to 2,600 probably because of tougher English language rules.
Student visa applications have seen a shocking fall from 28,700 in January 25 to 19,800 in January 26.
Reposted by Luke Piper
Britain’s care system promotes modern slavery. A genuinely humane government would reform it | Andrea Egan, UNISON general secretary writes in @theguardian.com
unsn.uk/4kBe3Km
unsn.uk/4kBe3Km
Britain’s care system promotes modern slavery. A genuinely humane government would reform it | Andrea Egan
New proposals that would force poorly paid migrant workers to wait longer for earned settlement are nothing more than an assault on working-class people, says Unison’s general secretary Andrea Egan
unsn.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Britain’s care system promotes modern slavery. A genuinely humane government would reform it | Andrea Egan, UNISON general secretary writes in @theguardian.com
unsn.uk/4kBe3Km
unsn.uk/4kBe3Km
Reposted by Luke Piper
This is really encouraging. It's not too late to stop this.
70 parliamentarians have written to the Home Office saying the settlement proposals are unfair & need a significant rethink
February 12, 2026 at 11:49 AM
This is really encouraging. It's not too late to stop this.
Reposted by Luke Piper
70 parliamentarians have written to the Home Office saying the settlement proposals are unfair & need a significant rethink
February 12, 2026 at 11:44 AM
70 parliamentarians have written to the Home Office saying the settlement proposals are unfair & need a significant rethink
Reposted by Luke Piper
📌 Any migrants or others affected by Labour's immigration proposals, please take a few minutes to respond to the Home Office consultation with your honest thoughts. I will provide some pointers on how to interpret deceptively worded questions in this thread soon 🧵
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
📌 Any migrants or others affected by Labour's immigration proposals, please take a few minutes to respond to the Home Office consultation with your honest thoughts. I will provide some pointers on how to interpret deceptively worded questions in this thread soon 🧵
Reposted by Luke Piper
Did somebody say "last minute modern slavery claims"? A good day to keep these handy:
freemovement.org.uk/briefing-is-...
freemovement.org.uk/the-reality-...
freemovement.org.uk/briefing-is-...
freemovement.org.uk/the-reality-...
February 11, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Did somebody say "last minute modern slavery claims"? A good day to keep these handy:
freemovement.org.uk/briefing-is-...
freemovement.org.uk/the-reality-...
freemovement.org.uk/briefing-is-...
freemovement.org.uk/the-reality-...
Reposted by Luke Piper
Good to see some Labour MPs showing a backbone, but the problems with these proposals on settlement aren't limited to being applied retrospectively: they also favour the well-off, discriminate vs disabled people, women & people with caring responsibilities and are probably unworkable
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Good to see some Labour MPs showing a backbone, but the problems with these proposals on settlement aren't limited to being applied retrospectively: they also favour the well-off, discriminate vs disabled people, women & people with caring responsibilities and are probably unworkable
The Home Secretary's response to moving the goal post is essentially 'rules change' and the risks to children are ultimately 'the parent's responsibility and they should plan their time in the UK better'.
This is from the party webpage.
Child poverty prevention is clearly not for everyone.
This is from the party webpage.
Child poverty prevention is clearly not for everyone.
February 9, 2026 at 8:19 AM
The Home Secretary's response to moving the goal post is essentially 'rules change' and the risks to children are ultimately 'the parent's responsibility and they should plan their time in the UK better'.
This is from the party webpage.
Child poverty prevention is clearly not for everyone.
This is from the party webpage.
Child poverty prevention is clearly not for everyone.
Reposted by Luke Piper
🚨NEW BLOG: Home Office plans could double the settlement wait from 5 to 10 years or more for people already living in the UK. Moving the goalposts mid-journey risks harming integration and increasing child poverty🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 AM
🚨NEW BLOG: Home Office plans could double the settlement wait from 5 to 10 years or more for people already living in the UK. Moving the goalposts mid-journey risks harming integration and increasing child poverty🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/far-from-settled-the-governments-earned-settlement-consultation
Reposted by Luke Piper
Reposted by Luke Piper
More than 1 in 10 employers stripped of their licence had it reinstated to continue hiring - and exploiting - migrants. Shameful. Is the Home Office operating with its eyes closed?
These employers must be fined, and that money must be used to compensate victims.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
These employers must be fined, and that money must be used to compensate victims.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
Home Office lets rogue firms regain licences to sponsor migrant visas
Employers targeted in a government ‘crackdown’ on abuse of the skilled work system are routinely being granted fresh approvals, Times analysis reveals
www.thetimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:55 PM
More than 1 in 10 employers stripped of their licence had it reinstated to continue hiring - and exploiting - migrants. Shameful. Is the Home Office operating with its eyes closed?
These employers must be fined, and that money must be used to compensate victims.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
These employers must be fined, and that money must be used to compensate victims.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
I was at an event hosted and attended by back bench Labour MPs on the Earned Settlement proposals.
We heard from a doctor, lawyer, carer and engineer who face waiting decades for the opportunity to settle in this country because they don't 'contribute' enough.
Tolerant? Decent? Respectful?
We heard from a doctor, lawyer, carer and engineer who face waiting decades for the opportunity to settle in this country because they don't 'contribute' enough.
Tolerant? Decent? Respectful?
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer will hold a speech tomorrow to say Britain is stronger as a "tolerant, decent and respectful country"
February 5, 2026 at 8:20 AM
I was at an event hosted and attended by back bench Labour MPs on the Earned Settlement proposals.
We heard from a doctor, lawyer, carer and engineer who face waiting decades for the opportunity to settle in this country because they don't 'contribute' enough.
Tolerant? Decent? Respectful?
We heard from a doctor, lawyer, carer and engineer who face waiting decades for the opportunity to settle in this country because they don't 'contribute' enough.
Tolerant? Decent? Respectful?
This statement is based on zero net migration. Given the policies recently implemented and the future Earned Settlement proposal, there is a risk of negative net migration for a period.
February 4, 2026 at 8:51 AM
This statement is based on zero net migration. Given the policies recently implemented and the future Earned Settlement proposal, there is a risk of negative net migration for a period.
Some excellent and passionate contributions from many back bench Labour MPs. The minister's statement affirmed most of what gov. says. Much was made of the consultation which, ultimately, is about the policy's implementation and not its substance. I don't think the minister addressed MP's concerns
Debate now on Earned Settlement proposals. Big turn out showing significant strength of feeling / concern about what the government wants to do.
Wow. This is a busy Westminster Hall debate! rightly so. parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
February 2, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Some excellent and passionate contributions from many back bench Labour MPs. The minister's statement affirmed most of what gov. says. Much was made of the consultation which, ultimately, is about the policy's implementation and not its substance. I don't think the minister addressed MP's concerns
Reposted by Luke Piper
The paperback's here! Lighter in weight, lighter on your wallet, with an update to boot.
Wild that it's been out in the world for nine months. Best thing I've ever done (professionally, certainly!). Out 12 March, pre-orders wherever you usually get your books. 🧡
Wild that it's been out in the world for nine months. Best thing I've ever done (professionally, certainly!). Out 12 March, pre-orders wherever you usually get your books. 🧡
February 2, 2026 at 7:37 PM
The paperback's here! Lighter in weight, lighter on your wallet, with an update to boot.
Wild that it's been out in the world for nine months. Best thing I've ever done (professionally, certainly!). Out 12 March, pre-orders wherever you usually get your books. 🧡
Wild that it's been out in the world for nine months. Best thing I've ever done (professionally, certainly!). Out 12 March, pre-orders wherever you usually get your books. 🧡
Debate now on Earned Settlement proposals. Big turn out showing significant strength of feeling / concern about what the government wants to do.
Wow. This is a busy Westminster Hall debate! rightly so. parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Westminster Hall
parliamentlive.tv
February 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Debate now on Earned Settlement proposals. Big turn out showing significant strength of feeling / concern about what the government wants to do.
Wow. This is a busy Westminster Hall debate! rightly so. parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Westminster Hall
parliamentlive.tv
February 2, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Wow. This is a busy Westminster Hall debate! rightly so. parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Reposted by Luke Piper
We need your help to take the Home Office to court.
EU citizens waiting for EU Settlement Scheme decisions are being effectively trapped in the UK. 🧵⬇️
www.crowdjustice.com/case/eu-citi...
EU citizens waiting for EU Settlement Scheme decisions are being effectively trapped in the UK. 🧵⬇️
www.crowdjustice.com/case/eu-citi...
Help us defend EU citizens’ right to return home to the UK
the3million is the largest grassroots organisation for EU citizens in the UK, formed after the 2016 referendum to protect the rights of people who have made the UK their home.
www.crowdjustice.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM
We need your help to take the Home Office to court.
EU citizens waiting for EU Settlement Scheme decisions are being effectively trapped in the UK. 🧵⬇️
www.crowdjustice.com/case/eu-citi...
EU citizens waiting for EU Settlement Scheme decisions are being effectively trapped in the UK. 🧵⬇️
www.crowdjustice.com/case/eu-citi...
Reposted by Luke Piper
We're looking for an experienced trainer to drive the development and delivery of our new exciting training programme 👀
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
We’re recruiting a Training Lead (Employment Law) | Work Rights Centre
www.workrightscentre.org
January 28, 2026 at 1:48 PM
We're looking for an experienced trainer to drive the development and delivery of our new exciting training programme 👀
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
Reposted by Luke Piper
I have spoken to lawyers who are extremely enthusiastic adopters of AI, and who had no idea that Law Society etc has issued guidance on what they should be doing. Speaks volumes imo. Anyway, my final post as Editor is a thinly-disguised AI hate piece...
New from Free Movement: Briefing: AI and immigration law – what guidance is there for lawyers? | Sonia Lenegan
Briefing: AI and immigration law - what guidance is there for lawyers? - Free Movement
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the complexity of immigration law combined with the ongoing legal aid advice crisis mean that many people
freemovement.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 9:12 AM
I have spoken to lawyers who are extremely enthusiastic adopters of AI, and who had no idea that Law Society etc has issued guidance on what they should be doing. Speaks volumes imo. Anyway, my final post as Editor is a thinly-disguised AI hate piece...
Sad to say that I come across these sorts of schemes regularly and, what is neglected in the Times piece, they are used as vehicles for modern slavery.
I have clients who have been lured into schemes (some do include 'jobs' ) and ended up Home Office recognised victims.
Step 5 is the big 🚩
I have clients who have been lured into schemes (some do include 'jobs' ) and ended up Home Office recognised victims.
Step 5 is the big 🚩
A Times investigation has found that visa agents are selling Skilled Worker visas for positions that don't exist.
It's well worth reading the full article (link in the next post), but here's how it works.
It's well worth reading the full article (link in the next post), but here's how it works.
January 28, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Sad to say that I come across these sorts of schemes regularly and, what is neglected in the Times piece, they are used as vehicles for modern slavery.
I have clients who have been lured into schemes (some do include 'jobs' ) and ended up Home Office recognised victims.
Step 5 is the big 🚩
I have clients who have been lured into schemes (some do include 'jobs' ) and ended up Home Office recognised victims.
Step 5 is the big 🚩