John Nicolson MP shames UK Government’s immigration policy at international conference

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John Nicolson MP, Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire, has criticised the UK Government’s immigration policy (notably the bureaucracy of the UK Government’s Ukrainian visa scheme) at an international parliamentary conference on migration.

Speaking at the Global Parliamentary Conference on Migration in Istanbul this week, Mr Nicolson said, “While much of Northern Europe opened its arms and borders, the UK Government made asylum as bureaucratic as possible for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s evil war against their peaceful country.”

Some 300 parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, including 16 Speakers and Deputy Speakers, from over 50 countries convened in Türkiye on 20-21 June for a global parliamentary conference on migration, organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

The conference provided an opportunity for Members of Parliament to take stock of the progress on migration and refugee policy around the world. The UK Parliament was represented by Rt Hon. Karen Bradley MP, Ms Lyn Brown MP and Mr John Nicolson MP.

According to the latest figures from the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are 27.1 million refugees and 53.2 million internally displaced people.

Concluding his remarks at the global conference, Mr Nicolson said, “As an independent country, this will not be Scotland’s approach. On aid targets and on asylum, we pledge to be one of the most progressive countries in the world.”