Lucy Gregg

Interested in human rights + public policy | Former @UNHCRUK @UKNPM @FreefromTorture | Tweets my own

[Clive Lewis MP @labourlewis]

The recent report, 'The Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal' concluded that "30 years of racist immigration legislation" caused the Windrush scandal.

Following the shocking events of racist violence this summer, the government has an important opportunity to recognise the conclusions of the report and shift the dial.

I’ve written to the Home Secretary along with MP colleagues, to ask the govt to do just that.

[Action for Race Equality @AREtweets_]

Do you want to about see #Windrush elders & their families receive justice following the #WindrushScandal?

We've outlined 8 key action areas the next gov should commit to in their 1st 100 days.

Support our message. RT + tag someone who should see this:
https://t.co/pdHdCoYyZ4

[Ed Conway @EdConwaySky]

Despite widespread use of the phrase "broken Britain" we're prob still not talking enough about public investment. MUCH lower in the UK than in most other developed countries. But what are major parties proposing? Useful thread to get you up to speed👇

[Lucy Gregg @lu_gregg]

Its always good to find a positive spin on often difficult times in the #humanrights world. Lets take this moment and celebrate it, before inhaling for the next chapter without complacency 🙏💪

[Adam Wagner KC @AdamWagner1]

It won't be the focus, but today is a huge day for human rights protections in the UK.

In the 2010, 2015 and 2019 Conservative Party manifestos they pledged to scrap or change the Human Rights Act.

This was always about weakening rights protections in the UK, and was also nakedly a vehicle for picking a fight with the European Court on Human Rights which the right of the Tory Party hoped would lay the groundwork for leaving (see e.g. 2015's "Protecting Human Rights in the UK document).

The 2010 manifesto pledge couldn't be fulfilled because of the Lib Dem coalition, so instead there was the somewhat bizarre "Bill of Rights Commission".

The 2015 manifesto wasn't progressed probably because of Brexit taking up all the airtime.

The 2019 manifesto pledge led to Dominic Raab's ultimately doomed Bill of Rights Bill, which was so obviously a reduction in rights protection, and unworkable, that few supported it even in the Tory Party. It died a death before becoming law.

And that leads us to today, the 2024 manifesto, which contains *nothing* about the Human Rights Act and the vaguest of vague statements about the European Court on Human Rights, so minor that they use an obscure acronym and don't actually say what they mean by "we will always choose our security".

What does this mean? It means that even if (as seems unlikely) the Tories win another 5 years, for the first time in 14 years they have not committed to doing anything at all to change human rights protections in the UK.

And so the Human Rights Act 1998 and UK's commitment to the ECHR, against all odds, will have not only survived 14 years of Eurosceptic and Human rights-sceptic/hostile governments, but also be essentially unchanged since it came into force in 2000. That's 29 years if you assume the next government will not alter it.

So it may not be the big focus of today, but from someone who has fought many of the battles against watering down of human rights protections (along with many others), it is pretty remarkable, and in my view a great thing, and hopefully means that human rights will remain an important part of our national story for years to come.

(The four images below are from four manifestos, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2024 - you guess which is which!)

[Women for Refugee Women 🧡 @4refugeewomen]

🚨BREAKING

All women who were detained with Notices of Intent for Rwanda have now been granted bail and will be RELEASED from detention.

Whilst we are extremely pleased this has happened, it is shameful and cruel that it has taken so long.

#FreeRwandaDetainees

[Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden]

The government has responded to this High Court order, stating that it "does not intend to carry out enforced removals to Rwanda before the General Election on 4 July 2024"

The FDA's legal challenge against the Safety of Rwanda Act is going ahead on 6 June

[Sunder Katwala @sundersays]

The total Rwanda removals: one voluntary return to Rwanda. Cost: £400 million.

[Freedom from Torture🧡 @FreefromTorture]

🚨BREAKING: NO FLIGHTS TO RWANDA BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION

Rishi Sunak has just announced that there will be NO FLIGHTS before the general election.

Together, we have made it too hard for this inhumane scheme to go through.

The fight isn't over yet - will you join us?

[Freedom from Torture🧡 @FreefromTorture]

Come with us to the Chelsea Flower Show, to see the Freedom from Torture Garden ‘A Sanctuary for Survivors’ for the first time!🌳

Check out the bread oven, waves of willow & the word 'freedom' carved in the seating area in the 5 most popular languages our survivor clients speak.

[Safe Passage International🧡 @safepassageint]

Our new report with @refugeecouncil, published today, identifies serious failures and gaps in family reunion policy in the UK that endanger child refugees and their loved ones. 🧵

[Freedom from Torture🧡 @FreefromTorture]

📢 Hey @jet2tweets your customers have a message for you:

stand on the right side of history and against forced flights to Rwanda.

[Ben Smoke @bencsmoke]

if you read one thing this morning make sure it’s this from @FreefromTorture’s @haoussou on his experience as a torture survivor in detention. harrowing, moving, important call to arms that shames successive govts and should move us all to action. https://t.co/Fw5DA2VolL

[Asylum Aid @AsylumAid]

🚨 We are channelling our collective outrage into legal action against the cruel Rwanda scheme.

The govt has made it clear that it plans to act quickly.

The time to act is NOW and we need your urgent support. We are launching our CrowdJustice page: https://t.co/4JMo2f0Yln

1/3

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

Starmer pretty emphatic...
Q: There are reports Labour may retain the Rwanda scheme flights for some time in govt until you negotiate different returns agreements, is that correct? Are you considering retaining the scheme for a period?
A: No, I don't believe in the scheme.

[Jeff Crisp @JFCrisp]

Let's be clear.
The people the UK is planning to deport to Rwanda are NOT "unsuccessful asylum seekers" or "illegal immigrants."
They come from countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea & Syria, & if they were allowed to claim asylum, would in most cases be granted it.

[Nicola Kelly @NicolaKelly]

This Syrian man thought he was attending a routine appt, then told he would be sent to Rwanda.

"When I went to sign they told me they want to give me papers. They took me aside and after that there was a police van. They took my phone and put me in a [cell]. I'm very scared."