Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 June 2025
26 Jun 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
I will pick up on one of the phrases that the member used in that intervention—the “human story”. We are talking about human beings and their travel and the situation that leads them to decide that they can no longer stay in the country of their birth or where they live. That is a truly appalling decision for individuals to have to take.
What frightens, scares and annoys me is those other humans who see these people as a way to profit. Very complex financial arrangements can be made, in which families in effect borrow money from moneylenders at exorbitant interest rates, with the expectation that, if the individual makes the journey safely, they will reimburse the family. We have an entire dark economy working on that model.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18076, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on the legislative consent motion for the Border Security, Asylum a...
The Minister for Equalities (Kaukab Stewart)
SNP
I open this debate on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at a time of growing global instability. That instability can result in people having ...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Before us today is a legislative consent motion for a bill that epitomises a weak response from a weak Government. Is there a policy area that Keir Starmer h...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
I wonder whether Stephen Kerr could say what the legal routes to seek refuge in the UK are.
Stephen Kerr
Con
These are people who are leaving the safety of France and putting their lives in the hands of ruthless human traffickers. That is what we have to stop. Peopl...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is always a pleasure to follow Stephen Kerr, even when his oration—we might call it a salad of linguistic excitement—on the bill that is ploughing its way...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will Martin Whitfield take an intervention?
Martin Whitfield
Lab
Yes.
Paul Sweeney
Lab
I thank my friend for giving way. He makes a salient point about the misbelief that, if someone is to claim asylum, they are obligated to claim it in the fir...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I will pick up on one of the phrases that the member used in that intervention—the “human story”. We are talking about human beings and their travel and the ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
I hope that Martin Whitfield, who is a realist, will recognise that the vast majority of the people on the dinghies are young men. They are, in a sense, almo...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I am not going to make categorical assumptions about what groups of people choose this route—
Stephen Kerr
Con
Oh!
Martin Whitfield
Lab
If the member will be patient—Interruption. I am conscious of time; I apologise, Presiding Officer. I am not going to make sweeping assumptions about group...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
The Scottish Greens will support the LCM at decision time. However, I want to get the following comments, which relate to clause 38 of the Border Security, ...
Paul Sweeney
Lab
That is a really important point, as is shown by a case in my constituency in 2018. Duc Nguyen was trafficked from Vietnam and forced to work in conditions o...
Maggie Chapman
Green
Absolutely. I thank Paul Sweeney for raising that. Let us remember that many trafficked victims are forced into criminal activity and, by virtue of being tra...
Kaukab Stewart
SNP
I thank colleagues for their thoughtful and considered contributions to the debate, although the speeches have been varied and possibly a little polarised, w...