By Azeez Ramon
A Conservative MP, Katie Lam has sparked uproar after calling for the deportation of families who have settled legally in the UK — comments that have prompted fierce backlash from opposition MPs, community leaders, and campaigners.
“When Tories are saying people who are here legally ‘should go home’, then we have a serious conversation to be had about values of fairness and decency and what kind of society we want to live in,” said Abtisam Mohamed, Labour MP for Central Sheffield. She added: “Calling for legally-settled families to be removed crosses a line. Let’s be clear: people who came here legally, played by the rules, made this place their home and built a life here — this is their home! Britain’s strength has always come from its diversity and fairness. We should be standing up for those values, not turning against people who are part of our shared story.”
Mohamed’s rebuke underlines the deep controversy around the recent remarks by her Conservative counterpart, which critics say undermine the rights of immigrants and challenge long-standing British values of inclusion.
Backlash from Across the Political Divide
Labour MPs have condemned the suggestion as “tone deaf” and “divisive”, arguing it erodes public trust in the fairness of the UK’s immigration system. Community organisations have expressed alarm that such rhetoric could stoke fear among settled migrant communities, many of whom have lived in the country for years, paid taxes, and contributed to civic life.
Meanwhile, supporters of stricter immigration policy say that the comment reflects growing frustration over housing, public services, and integration. But opponents warn it risks inflaming racial tensions, undermining social cohesion, and breaching principles of due process.
What’s at Stake
Legal experts and civil-rights campaigners have also weighed in, noting that those with settled status (or who are legally resident) enjoy rights that cannot simply be revoked at will. They warn that calls to deport such individuals without due legal process could provoke legal challenges, and raise questions about how “settled status” is defined and protected under UK law.
For Mohamed, and many who share her view, the issue runs deeper than policy — it touches the definition of British identity itself. “This is their home,” she argues, “and we should be standing up for those values.”
About the Author
