Member

We cannot and should not allow the generosity of the asylum system to be manipulated. By clarifying the interpretation of the refugee convention in this specific context, guidance would be provided to decision-makers, reducing opportunistic claims. At the same time, it would not prevent genuine converts seeking other appropriate forms of protection or leave to remain on humanitarian grounds. It would simply ensure that the definition of a refugee is applied as intended. The refugee convention, admirable as it is, was drafted in a very different age and has sometimes been stretched beyond what its drafters could have envisaged. Parliament has a duty to ensure that the law reflects contemporary realities, including the growing challenge of fraudulent or opportunistic claims, while maintaining our proud record of offering sanctuary to those in genuine need.