On 2 December 2024, parliamentarians held a meeting to re-establish the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Immigration Detention.  

Following a vote by the membership, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour) was elected as the APPG’s new Chair, and Rt Hon. the Lord Garnier KC (Conservative), Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) and Mohammad Yasin MP as its officers. Medical Justice was re-elected as the APPG’s secretariat. 

 

APPG meeting attendees (L-R): Lord German (Liberal Democrat), Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party), Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour), newly elected APPG Chair Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour) and Rt Hon. John McDonnell MP (Labour). 

 

First launched in 2019, the APPG – which temporarily ceased to exist in May due to the general election – brings together more than 25 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum who share concerns about the use of immigration detention in the UK. It works to raise awareness within Parliament about immigration detention and its impacts, and to offer a forum for MPs and Peers to debate with subject experts, including those with lived experience of detention. Using information gathered through its activities, the APPG advocates for evidence-based reforms to immigration detention policy and for the welfare of detained people. 

With a recent increase in the number of people being detained, a significant expansion of detention planned, and deeply concerning conditions reported at Brook House IRC and Harmondsworth IRC amongst others, it is vital that the use of immigration detention by the new government continues to be carefully scrutinised in Parliament. The  APPG will make an important contribution to this. 

Membership of the APPG is open to MPs and peers of any party. If you cannot see your MP on the APPG’s current members list, please considering writing to them and asking them to join. They can do so by emailing contact@appgdetention.org.uk.  

Enter your postcode here to find your local MP and their contact details. 

You can stay up-to-date with the APPG’s ongoing work by following it on X/Twitter.