I.C.E for the U.K? and Police Protest Powers. 28-05/09-10/2025
- Kemi Badenoch's Conservative Party conference and her plans for an I.C.E Styled immigration force
- More powers for Police in the U.K to tackle repeating protests.
These two major stories have dominated the U.K Political arena this week, forcing the nation into serious questions of morality, freedom, and the kind of society we want to build and be. From the shadow government's new immigration proposals to renewed debates over the right to protest, the conversation has shifted from political strategy to ethical responsibility.
1. The “Removals Force” proposal from Kemi Badenoch
At the start of the Conservative Party Conference today, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, announced one of the boldest and yet most divisive proposals under her period of opposition leadership — the creation of a £1.6 billion "Removals Force." Drawing rough parallels with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, Badenoch said that this new force would seek to deport 150,000 people a year, tighten appeal rights, and perhaps withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights.
This proposal was presented as the definitive step for restoring the conceptualization of 'control,' at least demarcated by 'fairness' in the immigration system. For its proponents, this is a strong response to public frustration on illegal immigration and the alleged inability of previous governments to enforce immigration laws.
Yet, for critics, the proposal raises serious moral and humanitarian concerns. The idea of mass deportations and reduced legal recourse risks framing vulnerable individuals — including asylum seekers fleeing conflict or persecution — as political problems rather than people in need of protection. The potential withdrawal from the ECHR, a treaty the UK helped to shape after the Second World War, has also reignited debate about Britain’s commitment to human rights and international law.
This raises a broader question: how far should a government go in the name of control, and at what cost to compassion and morality?
2. Freedom of Protest Under Pressure
Alongside immigration, the government’s stance on public protest has become another defining issue this week. Following a pro-Palestinian march in London — held in defiance of police restrictions — more than 500 people were arrested. In the aftermath, ministers announced new police powers aimed at limiting “repeat protests” in the same areas, citing the need to protect communities from disruption.
Officials argue these measures are necessary to maintain public order and prevent the kind of large-scale disruption seen in recent years. But many civil rights groups and campaigners have warned that the changes risk eroding one of Britain’s most fundamental democratic freedoms — the right to protest peacfully.
The line between maintaining safety and restricting dissent is a delicate one. When the state begins to decide where, when, and how people can gather to make their voices heard, it raises another question of morality: is this truly about protecting the public, or about silencing anger, emotion and discomfort?
3. The Impact on Young People
For young people, these debates are not abstract policy arguments — they’re real indicators of the kind of country they are inheriting. Many in the younger generation already feel disconnected from political power and sceptical of institutions that seem to prioritise control over compassion or image over integrity.
Immigration policy directly shapes the diversity and inclusivity of the society in which young people will grow up. The way protests are policed affects whether their generation feels safe to speak up about issues like climate change, equality, or global injustice. If the political system appears to reward punishment and restriction over empathy and dialogue, it risks alienating a generation that already feels under-represented.
4. A Question of Morality and Direction
Politics this week has offered a sharp reminder that leadership is not only about enforcing laws — it’s about defining national values. The decisions made today on immigration, protest rights, and climate commitments will shape the moral character of the United Kingdom for decades to come.
The question, then, is not simply whether these policies will “work” in a practical sense, but whether they reflect who we want to be. Are we moving towards a fairer and more secure society — or one that measures success in control and conformity?
For many, especially young people, this is the heart of the issue. The next generation is watching closely — not just to see what happens, but to decide whether they still believe in the moral compass of British politics.
Westminster Weekly,
Every Sunday,
Written By Gruffydd Morris,
Chief Political Editor,
Young & Political
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A great post , well done.
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