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Dr. Lucy Mayblin

@mayblin.bsky.social

340 followers 310 following 130 posts

Senior Lecturer Sociology & Co-Director Migration Research Group, University of Sheffield, UK. www.lucymayblin.com www.sheffield.ac.uk/migration-research-group www.Channelcrossings.org

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · May 1

New work from the www.channelcrossings.org team!

We have been gathering a dataset of contracts that the government has with private companies related to Channel crossings. We are calling this the ‘border economy’. We have identified over £3billion worth of contracts...

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Visit the post for more.

www.channelcrossings.org

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 19h

How to change the dominant narrative on migration? This is a really interesting contribution from the US: "Narrative Guide for Immigrant Futures (2025) How To Create Narrative Interventions That Counter Fear and Change Attitudes" narrativeinitiative.org/resource/nar...

Reshaping The Immigrant Narrative: A Guide To Futures

Counter fear and advance a pro-immigrant vision. Our guide offers research and tools to shift the immigrant narrative for persuadable audiences.

narrativeinitiative.org

Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 2d

The "one in one out" deal between the UK and France is based on the idea of deterrence. But (and it's getting boring saying this year after year after year) the fabled deterrent effect does not exist. Here's one of the more recent explainers on this topic odi.org/en/insights/...

Migration deterrence strategies are popular amongst politicians, but what do we know about their effectiveness?

Looking to 2025, it is likely that states will seek to implement or expand offshore policies, despite serious human rights concerns and the fact that their effectiveness is far from proven. This blog…

odi.org

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

The Channel Monitoring Project @channelmonitoring.bsky.social · 8d

Last weekend, as the weather improved, more people tried to cross the Channel to reach safety in the UK. Four lost their lives in three separate incidents — one was a child. The government’s deterrent policies don’t work; they push people to take greater risks. We need #SafeRoutes now.

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 6d

Deeply, deeply, concerning.

"The prime minister told the BBC he did not want to "tear down" human rights laws, but is ready to look again at article three of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects against torture and degrading treatment." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

PM wants to change how international law used in asylum cases

The UK needs to "look again" at how to tackle mass migration, but those genuinely fleeing persecution should still be given asylum, the PM says.

www.bbc.co.uk

Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 7d

This is a brilliant opportunity for sociologists to join the board of The Sociological Review, practicing the kind of sociology many of us aspire to thesociologicalreview.org/announcement...

Call for new Editorial Board members for The Sociological Review journal for 2026

About The Sociological Review

thesociologicalreview.org

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 16d

Brilliant new project!

The Channel Monitoring Project @channelmonitoring.bsky.social · 19d

We are excited to announce the launch of The Channel Monitoring Project.
A new initiative to change reality on the ground and at sea. For the #safety, #dignity and #humanrights of those crossing the border in #smallboats. Counter the toxicity to tell the real story.

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · 25d

100% this

Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 25d

Solidarity with everyone on the anti-racist march in London today, and sorry I can’t be there too. Solidarity also with everyone anxious or in fear of the fascists. Stay safe everyone

Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 25d

V senior Labour MPs and Hope Not Hate have called on the prime minister and Labour to speak up louder against far right hate and division.

Our story here

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Lou Calvey @loucalvey.bsky.social · Sep 7

It’s being reported that Government are about to announce the furthering the use of Barracks to warehouse Refugees.

Ignoring the findings of the National Audit Office report that these are significantly more expensive than hotels. But that’s just the financial cost

www.nao.org.uk/reports/inve...

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · Sep 7

It’s behind a paywall but I’d love to read it! Do you have a free link? No journalist in England would print such a piece.

Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Neil Mackay @neilmackay.bsky.social · Sep 7

Scotland’s leading academic on refugees warns that British political rhetoric is taking the UK ‘into the foothills of genocide’

Professor Alison Phipps, Unesco chair in refugee integration at Glasgow University, says demonisation will end in deaths

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2544663...

Professor Alison Phipps: "We’re in foothills of genocide" as far-right threat grows

Professor Alison Phipps is the nation’s foremost authority on asylum. She tells our Writer at Large demonisation has gone too far and Westminster…

www.heraldscotland.com

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thank you to Dr. Nick Maynard — and all of the other witnesses and experts — for sharing your testimony at Day 1 of the Gaza Tribunal.

Join us again today to learn more about this government’s complicity in crimes against humanity. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

UK failing Gaza by allowing jets with British parts to bomb hospitals, says surgeon

It is ‘inconceivable’ that Hamas is using hospitals as command centres, Prof Nick Maynard tells independent Gaza tribunal

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · Sep 4

Statement of changes to the immigration rules just published, suspending applications for refugee family reunion from 3pm today. Barely 30 minutes notice. No end for the suspension given www.gov.uk/government/p...

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1298, 4 September 2025

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules published on 4 September 2025.

www.gov.uk

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · Sep 3

Good bit of myth busting, which does also include comments by @laurenhstarkey.bsky.social and myself, for some of the utter nonsense churned out about people seeking asylum, and repeated unquestioningly by some media commentators in today's @bigissue.com.

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Was Rylan right to say asylum seekers are living it up in hotels?

In 2022, Rylan told Big Issue he “wouldn’t censor himself”. But is there any truth to this anti-small boats tirade?

www.bigissue.com

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · Sep 2

The Home Office's own (excellent) research summary says

a) asylum seekers come to the UK primarily because of social networks/ties

b) welfare and labour market policies are *not* a big "pull factor"

c) safe routes would help

freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/u...

nce 2017, the number of asylum applications in the UK has been increasing, by 2019 returning to levels seen during 2015-16 although the UK was relatively little affected by the European 'migration crisis’. This recent increase is likely due in part to movement to the UK by those already in Europe. • In 2019, at least 1 in 6 asylum applicants to the UK had made a prior application in a European country. • However, only a small portion of secondary movement across Europe is to the UK – in 2019, the UK produced just 6% of Eurodac hits relating to prior applications elsewhere in Europe. • While many entering the UK may travel through France, most top nationalities applying for asylum in the UK do not apply in France in large numbers (with the exception of Sudanese, Afghan and Albanian applicants). Social networks, shared languages and diasporas motivate asylum seekers to reach certain destination countries • Social networks aid migrant integration to society, acting as facilitators of information relating to life in the destination country. They are considered trusted sources and are likely to influence migration journeys more than information from formal institutions. • The presence of diaspora communities can motivate migrants to reach certain destination countries. The proportion of diasporas in the EU+ residing in the UK is correlated with the proportion of asylum applications across the EU+ made in the UK (see slide 21). Armed conflict, human rights abuses, poverty, political & economic instability and violence are factors that forcibly displace migrants • The majority (57%) of individuals escaping persecution are internally displaced within their own countries and most refugees displaced abroad stay within their region of displacement, living in countries neighbouring their countries of origin 1 2 . • Of the number of asylum seekers that reach Europe, only a small percentage claim asylum in the UK. In 2019, the UK received 6% of total EU+ asylum applications. • A …

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Shoaib M Khan @shoaibmkhan.bsky.social · Sep 1

The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has passed a resolution stating that Israel’s “policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide.”

time.com/7313709/isra...

Israel’s Actions in Gaza Are 'Genocide,' Says Association

Israel has previously strongly denied that its actions in Gaza constitute genocide, citing its right to defend itself.

time.com

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Alison Phipps አሊሰን @alisonphipps.bsky.social · Sep 1

Every day I wake up to another far right policy announcement I didn’t vote for and wasn’t in the ruling party’s manifesto. Those who did ‘vote for change’ are raging at betrayal.

I also wake up in a devolved part of the U.K where cross party leaders in local & national government have stepped up

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · Aug 31

Withdrawing from ECHR used to be an obsession of the lunatic far right of the Conservative Party not even to be entertained by mainstream of that party. @uklabourparty.bsky.social have, like the conservatives, been cannibalised by the far right

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · Aug 31

Bridget Phillipson, "Labour believes there needs to be reform to the ECHR"

Trevor Philips, "You want to see changes in the ECHR?"

Bridget Phillipson, "Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at Article 8 Provisions to see if they need updating"

*Article 8: Right for private and family life*

Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Tom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · Aug 27

In a year of Labour putting major restrictions on legal immigration to appease immigration focussed voters they have gone from 35% to 19% in polls, immigration is now a higher profile issue, and both right opposition parties have moved to calling, either as leaders or as MPs, for mass deportations.

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · Aug 28

Extending the "move on period" came at the end of lengthy campaigning, and reams of evidence showing how 28 days led to homelessness, and more pressure on local authorities.
This is a counterproductive, retrograde, move by Labour designed to chase Reform. Despicable!
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Home Office set to halve time asylum seekers spend in hotels

The time given to people granted asylum to move from hotels to their own accommodation will be cut from 56 to 28 days.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Alison Phipps አሊሰን @alisonphipps.bsky.social · Aug 28

It’s arrived. The best theoretical text I’ve ever read on the figure and experience of the refugee.

Congratulations @hyabyohannes.bsky.social @uofgunescorila.bsky.social

Order here for your library www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/1...

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · Aug 7

This is an interesting proposal from Future Governance Forum on how Asylum Management Centres could address small boat Channel crossings. I'd be interested to know what people think of this. www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/2025/05/15/w...

Reposted by Dr. Lucy Mayblin

Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · Aug 6

New from Free Movement: What do we know about the UK-France agreement on asylum returns? | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/what-do-we-k...

What do we know about the UK-France agreement on asylum returns? - Free Movement

As announced in July, this week a treaty between the UK and France on asylum returns has been ratified and is now in force. The treaty provides for people who

freemovement.org.uk

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · Aug 5

Great writing from @nicolakellywrites.bsky.social "It’s absolutely unfathomable how far Labour’s moral compass has drifted"

Nicola Kelly @nicolakellywrites.bsky.social · Aug 5

🔴A reminder of why the "one in, one out" deal won't work.

The question nobody is asking is who they are going to supposedly detain and send back to France. Is it certain nationalities? People who have fled conflict but not others? Single males only?

open.substack.com/pub/notanoth...

France: Friend or foe?

Another week, another unworkable plan.

open.substack.com

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Dr. Lucy Mayblin @mayblin.bsky.social · Jul 31

We had an all staff briefing recently where senior management presented our new "golden thread" which is to improve our global reputation. Which translates into be posters which say “when you ask, we respond” “When you shout, we roar" when you engage, we stimulate"...