Senior Judge Criticizes Political Leaders Over Immigration Case Comments
Baroness Sue Carr expresses concern regarding remarks by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch on judicial decision involving Palestinian family.
The most senior judge in England and Wales, Baroness Sue Carr, has expressed deep concern over comments made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch regarding a recent immigration tribunal decision.
The case in question involved a Palestinian family from Gaza who were granted the right to reside in the UK after applying through a scheme originally designed for Ukrainian refugees.During a session of Prime Minister's Questions, Kemi Badenoch questioned the tribunal's ruling, describing it as 'completely wrong' and inquiring whether the government planned to appeal the decision.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer concurred with Badenoch's assessment, stating that 'it should be Parliament that makes the rules on immigration' and indicated that the Home Secretary was examining the legal 'loophole' that permitted this outcome.Baroness Carr responded to these remarks by emphasizing the necessity for political figures to uphold the rule of law and respect judicial independence.
She characterized the comments as 'unacceptable' and highlighted that disagreements with judicial decisions should be addressed through the appropriate appellate channels.The tribunal's decision allowed the family—comprising two parents and their four children, displaced after their home in Gaza was destroyed by an airstrike—to join a relative residing in the UK. The family's initial application was submitted under the Ukraine Family Scheme, which was subsequently denied by the Home Office.
However, upon appeal, the tribunal granted them permission to stay based on human rights considerations, specifically the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.In light of the tribunal's ruling, both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have called for a review of the existing immigration policies to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Home Office has stated its intention to contest claims that do not align with established immigration rules rigorously.Baroness Carr also addressed broader concerns regarding the safety of judges, noting that personal attacks on members of the judiciary have reached an 'all-time high,' partly due to misrepresentation of their work on social media.
She reiterated the importance of government officials visibly respecting and protecting judicial independence to maintain public confidence in the legal system.
The case in question involved a Palestinian family from Gaza who were granted the right to reside in the UK after applying through a scheme originally designed for Ukrainian refugees.During a session of Prime Minister's Questions, Kemi Badenoch questioned the tribunal's ruling, describing it as 'completely wrong' and inquiring whether the government planned to appeal the decision.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer concurred with Badenoch's assessment, stating that 'it should be Parliament that makes the rules on immigration' and indicated that the Home Secretary was examining the legal 'loophole' that permitted this outcome.Baroness Carr responded to these remarks by emphasizing the necessity for political figures to uphold the rule of law and respect judicial independence.
She characterized the comments as 'unacceptable' and highlighted that disagreements with judicial decisions should be addressed through the appropriate appellate channels.The tribunal's decision allowed the family—comprising two parents and their four children, displaced after their home in Gaza was destroyed by an airstrike—to join a relative residing in the UK. The family's initial application was submitted under the Ukraine Family Scheme, which was subsequently denied by the Home Office.
However, upon appeal, the tribunal granted them permission to stay based on human rights considerations, specifically the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.In light of the tribunal's ruling, both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have called for a review of the existing immigration policies to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Home Office has stated its intention to contest claims that do not align with established immigration rules rigorously.Baroness Carr also addressed broader concerns regarding the safety of judges, noting that personal attacks on members of the judiciary have reached an 'all-time high,' partly due to misrepresentation of their work on social media.
She reiterated the importance of government officials visibly respecting and protecting judicial independence to maintain public confidence in the legal system.
