The Liberal Democrats began their autumn conference by announcing their plans to establish “safe and legal routes” to asylum in the UK and increase pay for early education. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, declared that the party would repeal the Illegal Migration Act, describing it as “wretched” and a boon to human traffickers. The act, which was implemented in July, prohibits asylum claims made through unregulated routes and sets a cap on overall immigration numbers. The Liberal Democrats motion also includes measures to combat modern slavery, such as transferring the power to identify victims to local safeguarding agencies and providing legal aid to victims.
The party also aims to reform policies regarding migrant workers, replacing the salary threshold for work visas with a more flexible, merit-based system and establishing a watchdog to protect workers in precarious employment. Home Office figures reveal that by 2022, 437,000 asylum seekers were granted safe and legal routes to enter the UK through various schemes. The government has pledged to explore new routes for vulnerable individuals but asserts the need to tackle illegal migration first.
During the conference, the Liberal Democrats also pledged to double parental leave payments, extending coverage to the first year of a child’s life. They called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey dismissed the possibility of a pre-election pact with Labour and stated that EU membership was no longer a priority for the party. Instead, they are focusing on local issues and building on recent electoral successes in by-elections and local elections. Their agenda includes healthcare, environmental policies, and the cost of living, with a commitment to maintaining the triple lock system for pensions.