Immigration is an area of policy usually dominated by punitive viciousness towards those who "don't belong". But the debate on the Immigration Bill on Thursday saw a sudden bout of sanity when Parliament amended the bill to allow the children of overstayers to go to school.
This is a welcome change. Children aren't responsible for their parents' immigration status (or lack thereof), and it is grossly unfair to punish them for it - especially in a manner which could have serious effects on their future life-chances. The amendment is a positive step towards a fairer, more humane immigration system.
Now, if only they'd apply the same humanitarian approach to people's parents and partners, rather than trying to throw them out of the country all the time...
