However, the issue of FNOs is a distraction from the real topic of discussion – IMMIGRATION.

Here are the latest statistics from Border Force that was published in August of 2024

Notes:

1. This diagram is a simplification and doesn’t include all parts of the immigration system, such as people crossing the border who do not require a visa, or irregular arrivals. Data in different parts of the immigration system is not always comparable.
2. Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes include visas granted on the Ukraine, Hong Kong BN(O) and family reunion routes, as well as refugee resettlement and relocation in the UK.
3. The EU settlement scheme (EUSS) figure relates to grants of settled status or pre-settled status, in the year ending June 2024.
4. Immigration detention relates to the number of people in detention on 30 June 2024.

For the majority of people the issue lies not in the legal migration routes, sponsored work and study visa’s or visa’s issued to those visiting family, the issues lay to the right of the above diagram where the data shows that;

(Note: This data needs ot be updated for 2025 as it is now out of date)

1. 97,000 people entered the UK and claimed asylum.
2. 31,000 of these were illegal entrants via the small boats issue in the channel.
3. 22,000 of these were voluntarilly returned to their home nation
4. 7,200 were forceably returned to their home nation
5. 67,800 remained in the UK for processing
6. There were 1,800 people from other nations also held in detention that are seperate from the above figures.

What does British Democracy propose?

Clearly the current system is not working and the various governments have, for decades, scrambled to plug holes in the system rather than change it and plug obvious holes.

We propose a simple system to move us forward – implementing it may not be quite as simple but we have to start somewhere.

General Legal Migration comment – 1 out – 1 in policy. Thus, for every person who leaves the UK to live in another country, we shall allow a person from another country to settle in the UK to balance the nation. We need to build up infrastructure and services before we can look at a different model.

Grants of Asylum

Refugees who wish to enter the United Kingdom must apply for asylum before travelling. Applications must be submitted at a British Embassy or Consulate in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, or Germany.
No applications will be accepted at the UK border.

Applicants must provide valid photographic identification from their home nation.
Failure to provide ID will result in extended verification times and may lead to rejection.

All applicants must:

• prove they face an immediate and genuine threat in their home country; and

• demonstrate why they cannot safely settle in any other safe nation.

Having family members in the UK is not a justification for choosing the UK as the destination for asylum.

If an application is rejected, entry to the UK will be refused.
Any attempt to enter the country regardless will result in detention, removal, and a lifetime ban from re-entry.

If approved, the applicant will receive a 12-month Refugee Entry Visa.
This must be renewed before expiry if their circumstances remain unchanged.

Refugees will be entitled to claim basic subsistence support only.
They will not be permitted to work while under refugee status.

Refugee status is temporary and may not exceed seven consecutive years.
After this period, individuals may be required to leave the UK if their home nation is deemed safe or if they refuse relocation.

Refugees cannot apply for British citizenship at any time.

If a refugee commits a serious violent or sexual offence, or becomes a repeat offender, their refugee status will be immediately revoked.
They will be removed from the UK within 48 hours and returned to their home country.

EU Citizens
EU passport holders will be exempt from standard entry restrictions but must register prior to travel using a new Online Pre-Entry Verification Portal.

During registration:

• The passport will be automatically verified for authenticity and validity.

• Criminal record and outstanding warrant checks will be conducted through shared EU–UK databases.

• A live image will be captured to confirm identity against the passport.

• The applicant must verify their home address, using a process similar to UK citizens proving identity on UK Government services.

Entry will be automatically refused to any EU citizen who:

• has an active arrest warrant in any EU state;

• is currently on a community sentence or probation;

• has served more than three years’ custodial imprisonment; or

• has been convicted of violent or sexual offences.

Any attempt to enter the UK despite being barred will result in immediate arrest, detention, and return to their home country at their own expense.
If they cannot pay, they will be returned to the EU nation from which they travelled, or failing that, to France, as the standard point of return.

All Non-UK Nationals

All individuals entering the United Kingdom for any purpose must complete an Online Pre-Entry Application at least 14 days prior to travel.
This system will mirror the process used for EU nationals, including:

• full passport verification;

• live facial-image capture to confirm identity;

• confirmation of home address;

• automatic checks for criminal records, probation, and outstanding warrants.

Entry will be automatically refused to any applicant who:

• has an active arrest warrant;

• is currently serving a community sentence or probation order;

• has served more than three years’ custodial imprisonment;

• has been convicted of any violent, sexual, or drug-related offence.

Any barred individual who attempts to enter the United Kingdom will be immediately arrested and returned to their home nation at their own expense.
If they cannot pay, they will receive a five-year custodial sentence in the UK, after which they will be deported and prohibited permanently from future entry.

Work Visa Sponsorship

UK-based companies or Government organisations may sponsor a Work Visa for a foreign national only when strict conditions have been met and verified.

Sponsorship will be permitted in the following circumstances:

1. Proven Labour Shortage

The employer must demonstrate that:

• the position has been advertised in recognised conventional media or on an established online job board,

• the advertisement ran for a minimum of 26 consecutive weeks,

• no suitable UK-based or legally resident applicant was available,

• and clear evidence must be provided explaining why applicants were deemed unsuitable.

2. Specialised Roles

The role must be of such a highly specialised nature that it cannot reasonably be filled by anyone already legally residing in the United Kingdom.
Evidence of the required specialist skills or qualifications must be submitted.

3. Research & Academic Roles

Visas may be sponsored for applicants filling research or educational positions within an approved faculty.
All Higher Education institutions wishing to participate must first register with the Government as a Recognised Research and Education Provider and meet a defined national standard.

Banned Countries List

(Part of the BDA’s Ethical Politics & Trade Policy)

Diplomatic representatives may be exempt.

A publicly accessible Banned Countries List will be maintained online and updated quarterly, or sooner where conditions in a nation worsen or improve.

No person may enter the United Kingdom from a country on the Banned List under any circumstances, except for:

1. Approved asylum applicants processed through the external system described in Section 1; or

2. Accredited diplomatic personnel.

British citizens will be prohibited from travelling to these nations.
UK companies will be prohibited from trading with these nations in any form.

Individuals who attempt to travel to a banned nation without authorisation will face legal sanction.
Companies that trade with banned states will face serious criminal and civil penalties, including asset seizures and permanent revocation of trading licences.

Where a British citizen has direct immediate family in a banned state (defined strictly as mother, father, sibling), they may apply for:

• One annual visit capped at 14 days, or

• An Emergency Travel Permit in cases of death or life-threatening medical emergency.

Documentary evidence of the familial connection is required for each application.

Criteria for Inclusion on the Banned Countries List

A nation will be added if one or more of the following apply:

• State-sponsored terrorism

• State-sponsored espionage or tacit approval of such activities

• State-sponsored extrajudicial executions

• Systemic and serious human rights abuses

• International sanctions for unlawful behaviour

• Active internal or external armed conflict (civil or international)

• Harbouring internationally recognised terror organisations without lawful action

Illustrative Examples (for discussion only; not final list)

Listed to demonstrate criteria; not exhaustive.

• Iran – Human rights abuses; terrorism; espionage; extrajudicial killings

• Lebanon – Terror groups; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• Israel – Human rights abuses; espionage; extrajudicial killings

• Afghanistan – Terrorism; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• Pakistan – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• Russia – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• North Korea – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• China – Espionage; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• Albania – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses

• Venezuela – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses

• Cuba – Espionage; human rights abuses; extrajudicial killings

• Libya – Terrorism; lawlessness; human rights abuses

• Republic of the Congo – Internal conflict; human rights abuses

• Yemen – Terrorism; internal conflict; human rights abuses

(These are not a finalised list and will be determined solely by evidence.)

Restricted Countries List

(Part of the BDA’s Ethical Politics & Trade Policy)

Diplomatic representatives may be exempt.

Nations on the Restricted Countries List will require FCDO approval for:

• UK citizen travel;

• UK company trade, contracts, or investment;

• Technology transfer;

• Defence or dual-use exports.

This list will include states whose governments engage in:

• Severe restrictions on political freedom

• Suppression of free speech

• Media censorship

• Systemic human rights violations

• Politically motivated imprisonment

• State intimidation of minorities

• Corrupt or compromised judicial systems

Illustrative Examples (for discussion only; not final list)

• Saudi Arabia – Terrorism; espionage; human rights abuses

• UAE – Human rights concerns; political restrictions; media controls

• Pakistan – Human rights concerns; media restrictions

• India – Human rights concerns; political freedoms; media freedoms

• Vietnam – Political restrictions; human rights; censorship

• Colombia – Human rights concerns; political violence

• Zimbabwe – Human rights abuses; political repression

• Bangladesh – Terrorism; violent crime; human rights concerns

• Egypt – Terrorism; lawlessness; media restrictions

(Again, examples only.)

Our Ethical Standard

We recognise that opinions will differ regarding which nations belong on which list.
However, changes will only be made when supported by verified evidence.
Where publication of such evidence risks:

• UK national security, or

• the safety of individuals providing information,

the details may be withheld, but the justification will be stated in principle.

The British Democratic Alliance believes in a legally enforceable ethical foreign and trade policy that all UK politicians, departments, agencies, and corporations must obey.

For years, successive Governments have condemned terrorism, espionage, and human rights abuses while doing little to meaningfully restrict engagement with the states responsible.

We reject that hypocrisy.

We have no intention of telling other nations how to run their countries —
but we absolutely reserve the right to decide who we trade with, who we host, and where our citizens should travel based on ethics, evidence, and international law.

Nations that refuse to uphold the standards of:

• the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

• the European Convention on Human Rights,

• the Geneva Conventions, and

• International Humanitarian Law

will not be treated as ethical partners of the United Kingdom.

We also believe that international human rights law, refugee conventions, and maritime law require new, modern protocols.
The UK will champion this at the United Nations.

Countries that refuse to sign updated human rights protocols will be placed on the Banned Countries List.

Because without ethics, you cannot have human rights.
And without human rights, you cannot call yourself a civilised nation.