Siân Pearce
@sianp.bsky.social
Immigration flavoured children's rights researcher, lawyer in a past life. Also geekery various. "Gary Sherman's Nemesis" (Abertoir, 2023)
Almost certainly not in the mood for this.
https://linktr.ee/SianP
Almost certainly not in the mood for this.
https://linktr.ee/SianP
Reposted by Siân Pearce
I'm not going to do a thread on the immigration and asylum stats but I've just been having a glance through. This jumped out. Asylum removals now higher than at any point during the Coalition and Conservative governments. www.gov.uk/government/s...
November 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I'm not going to do a thread on the immigration and asylum stats but I've just been having a glance through. This jumped out. Asylum removals now higher than at any point during the Coalition and Conservative governments. www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
"5,151 children crossed the Channel and claimed asylum in year to Sep 2025. Of the under 18s, 1,178 were girls and 3,973 were boys".
For all those who complain only single, young men travel to the UK to claim asylum. Don't worry, there are thousands of desperate children who risk their lives too.
For all those who complain only single, young men travel to the UK to claim asylum. Don't worry, there are thousands of desperate children who risk their lives too.
November 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
"5,151 children crossed the Channel and claimed asylum in year to Sep 2025. Of the under 18s, 1,178 were girls and 3,973 were boys".
For all those who complain only single, young men travel to the UK to claim asylum. Don't worry, there are thousands of desperate children who risk their lives too.
For all those who complain only single, young men travel to the UK to claim asylum. Don't worry, there are thousands of desperate children who risk their lives too.
Reposted by Siân Pearce
YOU WANTED NET IMMIGRATION TO COME DOWN! THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE!
November 27, 2025 at 1:13 PM
YOU WANTED NET IMMIGRATION TO COME DOWN! THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE!
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Some very valid questions here for Shabana Mahmood, about her distinctly undercooked idea for "independent adjudicators" on asylum (and other immigration?) cases, from the House of Commons Justice Committee
committees.parliament.uk
November 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Some very valid questions here for Shabana Mahmood, about her distinctly undercooked idea for "independent adjudicators" on asylum (and other immigration?) cases, from the House of Commons Justice Committee
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Time to re-up this pun
"Why is that man singing Christmas songs dressed like Charlemagne?"
"Oh, he's Caroling Ian."
@lollardfish.bsky.social
"Oh, he's Caroling Ian."
@lollardfish.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Time to re-up this pun
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Of course people over-estimate migration rates when politicians them as a crisis.
But until our leaders have the courage to focus on people, not numbers, no figure will ever be low enough for some.
It's the narrative, not the numbers, that must change.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
But until our leaders have the courage to focus on people, not numbers, no figure will ever be low enough for some.
It's the narrative, not the numbers, that must change.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Major thing most people get wrong about immigration - and why PM hasn't helped
A report published today found that 56% of voters believe net migration rose last year - when in fact it halved - thanks to constant 'crisis messaging' about migration and asylum
www.mirror.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Of course people over-estimate migration rates when politicians them as a crisis.
But until our leaders have the courage to focus on people, not numbers, no figure will ever be low enough for some.
It's the narrative, not the numbers, that must change.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
But until our leaders have the courage to focus on people, not numbers, no figure will ever be low enough for some.
It's the narrative, not the numbers, that must change.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Juries don’t cause backlogs — underfunding does, ’ Jason Lartey, LCCSA president, tells @thetimes.com, asking justice secretary David Lammy to meet him and see what it's like on the "frontline" of the system. www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Jason Lartey: ‘Juries don’t cause backlogs — underfunding does’
The new president of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association tells Catherine Baksi why he fears scrapping jury trials risks inflicting greater harm
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Juries don’t cause backlogs — underfunding does, ’ Jason Lartey, LCCSA president, tells @thetimes.com, asking justice secretary David Lammy to meet him and see what it's like on the "frontline" of the system. www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Very interesting thread of in-court reporting on Palestine Action hearing, by the estimable @lizziedearden.bsky.social.
Even if government wins, it is facing what is called rather "anxious scrutiny" from the bench.
Suspect government lawyers are not delighted by how hard the judges are pressing.
Even if government wins, it is facing what is called rather "anxious scrutiny" from the bench.
Suspect government lawyers are not delighted by how hard the judges are pressing.
The way Palestine Action ban was approved by MPs has been raised in the High Court, with Dame Victoria Sharp noting 2 unrelated groups were on the same order
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
Many MPs demanding explanation on why two other groups are on same banning order
Labour MP Kim Johnson says: "Lumping Palestine Action together with other two obscure groups to ensure it is proscribed is a disgraceful manipulation of parliamentary procedure"
Labour MP Kim Johnson says: "Lumping Palestine Action together with other two obscure groups to ensure it is proscribed is a disgraceful manipulation of parliamentary procedure"
November 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Very interesting thread of in-court reporting on Palestine Action hearing, by the estimable @lizziedearden.bsky.social.
Even if government wins, it is facing what is called rather "anxious scrutiny" from the bench.
Suspect government lawyers are not delighted by how hard the judges are pressing.
Even if government wins, it is facing what is called rather "anxious scrutiny" from the bench.
Suspect government lawyers are not delighted by how hard the judges are pressing.
Reposted by Siân Pearce
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
The way Palestine Action ban was approved by MPs has been raised in the High Court, with Dame Victoria Sharp noting 2 unrelated groups were on the same order
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
Many MPs demanding explanation on why two other groups are on same banning order
Labour MP Kim Johnson says: "Lumping Palestine Action together with other two obscure groups to ensure it is proscribed is a disgraceful manipulation of parliamentary procedure"
Labour MP Kim Johnson says: "Lumping Palestine Action together with other two obscure groups to ensure it is proscribed is a disgraceful manipulation of parliamentary procedure"
November 27, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The way Palestine Action ban was approved by MPs has been raised in the High Court, with Dame Victoria Sharp noting 2 unrelated groups were on the same order
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
She says MPs may have been "reluctant" to vote against it but the home sec lawyer says the court should be "cautious" giving that any weight
Reposted by Siân Pearce
BOOK TITLE OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN
Cover Reveal!
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
November 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
BOOK TITLE OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN
Reposted by Siân Pearce
AI kind of feels like the endgame of this bit Graeber described in the original Bullshit Jobs essay: these people have been so thoroughly cleaved from any sense of purpose that they resent those who have one. They hate artists for their skill and think poverty should be the price of having a calling
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 AM
AI kind of feels like the endgame of this bit Graeber described in the original Bullshit Jobs essay: these people have been so thoroughly cleaved from any sense of purpose that they resent those who have one. They hate artists for their skill and think poverty should be the price of having a calling
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Siân Pearce
From the asylum stats, the initial decision backlog is still going down, but the use of hotels has gone up again. The appeals process is increasingly the new bottleneck in the system, but the Home Office still haven't updated the appeals stats, or their quality of decision making measure.
November 27, 2025 at 11:15 AM
From the asylum stats, the initial decision backlog is still going down, but the use of hotels has gone up again. The appeals process is increasingly the new bottleneck in the system, but the Home Office still haven't updated the appeals stats, or their quality of decision making measure.
Reposted by Siân Pearce
One of my biggest fears is how the toughening up of restrictions directed at the many tens of thousands of people on Health and Care visas (both for extensions and settlement) will see increases in undocumented people. Instead of helping them, they are being demonised.
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
One of my biggest fears is how the toughening up of restrictions directed at the many tens of thousands of people on Health and Care visas (both for extensions and settlement) will see increases in undocumented people. Instead of helping them, they are being demonised.
Reposted by Siân Pearce
A solicitor, Andrew Milne has been bullying leaseholders across Sheffield into paying him extraordinary sums, with no legal basis.
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
SRA urged to take action as we reveal solicitor has ‘purposely frustrated’ investigation
Solicitor Andrew Jonathan Milne delayed an official investigation into his alleged professional misconduct by overwhelming the regulator with complaints and threatening them with two injunctions se…
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A solicitor, Andrew Milne has been bullying leaseholders across Sheffield into paying him extraordinary sums, with no legal basis.
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Profile says “Meticulously researched” niche drivel
That’s definitely worth a follow!
That’s definitely worth a follow!
Today is the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Mahna Mahna on Sesame Street. You’re familiar with it by now, of course, but... well, it never hurts to be reminded, does it?
Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (1969)
YouTube video by Tiny Dancer
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Profile says “Meticulously researched” niche drivel
That’s definitely worth a follow!
That’s definitely worth a follow!
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Srsly what is going on here
Back to the asylum page, the Home Office continues to weirdly fail to acknowledge that they have failed to publish data on claims based on sexual orientation this year
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Srsly what is going on here
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Simple reality, as @zoejardiniere.bsky.social sets out, is that immigration is actually a good thing, and a drop like this really is not. People's lives are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet, and this impacts everyone. Everyone becomes worse off by attacking migrants.
bsky.app/profile/zoej...
bsky.app/profile/zoej...
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Simple reality, as @zoejardiniere.bsky.social sets out, is that immigration is actually a good thing, and a drop like this really is not. People's lives are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet, and this impacts everyone. Everyone becomes worse off by attacking migrants.
bsky.app/profile/zoej...
bsky.app/profile/zoej...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Regular reminder that behind all the guff about immigration statistics we are talking about actual people's lives.
We are pretty much guaranteed to see today's figures used to defend anti-immigration policies, and ignore the harm they cause. These are people's lives.
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-m...
We are pretty much guaranteed to see today's figures used to defend anti-immigration policies, and ignore the harm they cause. These are people's lives.
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-m...
UK migration is at a record high – but immigration should be celebrated, not weaponised
Experience tells us that there will be those who try and “weaponise” immigration no matter what, says Stand for All's Daniel Sohege.
www.bigissue.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Regular reminder that behind all the guff about immigration statistics we are talking about actual people's lives.
We are pretty much guaranteed to see today's figures used to defend anti-immigration policies, and ignore the harm they cause. These are people's lives.
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-m...
We are pretty much guaranteed to see today's figures used to defend anti-immigration policies, and ignore the harm they cause. These are people's lives.
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-m...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
The quarterly immigration system statistics are out, covering the period ending September 2025: www.gov.uk/government/s...
Immigration system statistics, year ending September 2025
Quarterly statistics on people coming to the UK, extensions of stay, citizenship, asylum, detentions, and returns.
www.gov.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The quarterly immigration system statistics are out, covering the period ending September 2025: www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
It absolutely wasn't. Might be showing my age here, but 20 years ago was not actually that long ago, in terms of this
Nigel Farage asked about Reform MS Laura Anne Jones (who the Senedd Commissioner found had used a racist term in a staff WhatsApp chat in August 2023 while discussing TikTok writing: “No chinky spies for me.”)
"Well, she used a word that colloquially, probably was meant in a nice way 20 years ago."
"Well, she used a word that colloquially, probably was meant in a nice way 20 years ago."
November 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
It absolutely wasn't. Might be showing my age here, but 20 years ago was not actually that long ago, in terms of this
Reposted by Siân Pearce
New from FM: Access to lawyers for people in immigration detention reaches a new low | Sonia Lenegan
Access to lawyers for people in immigration detention reaches a new low - Free Movement
Bail for Immigration Detainees has published their latest report looking at access to legal advice for people in immigration detention and has found that
freemovement.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New from FM: Access to lawyers for people in immigration detention reaches a new low | Sonia Lenegan
Reposted by Siân Pearce
New from Free Movement: Adult siblings in Gaza case unable to establish family life under article 8 | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/adult-siblin...
Adult siblings in Gaza case unable to establish family life under article 8 - Free Movement
The Court of Appeal has reiterated that for adult siblings to be able to establish family life for the purpose of article 8(1) there is a requirement for
freemovement.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
New from Free Movement: Adult siblings in Gaza case unable to establish family life under article 8 | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/adult-siblin...
Reposted by Siân Pearce
Current obsession: photos of Siouxsie Sioux and Pam Hogg over the years getting absolutely munted together
November 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Current obsession: photos of Siouxsie Sioux and Pam Hogg over the years getting absolutely munted together