Iran

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We clearly advise everybody not to make that dangerous journey across the channel, and it is this Government’s intention that we reduce to zero the number of people who are doing that. That is not the right way to reach this country when in need of asylum. The issue around communications is incredibly important, and we are talking to other countries about what we may be able to do to enable access to internet or telephone communications, not just because we need to know what is happening on the ground but because, as the right reverend Prelate said, it is vital for people who are intensely concerned about their loved ones and others in their community.

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

My Lords, the Minister wants to discourage young people from Iran who are fleeing for their lives from coming to this country on a small boat. I entirely agree, but the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, asked, and I did not hear the Minister answer: what are we going to do to provide some safe and legal way for them to come? Some of them, particularly those who have been educated in this country and have been to British universities but now face being shot on the streets, might very well want to come here. We should be proud to receive them.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right. There are many who have lived and worked here and been educated here, as he says. But it is not right that we encourage people to take dangerous journeys, and I know that is not what he would wish us to do. We do not have a formal safe route situation at the moment with regard to Iran, and we are not actually seeing large numbers of people fleeing the country at this stage. Obviously we will keep a close watch on this and, if we need to change stance, of course we can.