Story perspectives

Medaille Trust urges scrapping £10k slavery clause in Immigration Bill

7/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Medaille Trust urged the government to withdraw the modern-slavery provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The Bill imposes stricter credibility tests and a £10,000 repayment charge, which critics say conflates trafficking victims with irregular migrants and eliminates recovery periods.
Asylum seeker Frank, a homeless Nigerian, fears the repayment demand could force hidden work, while Jamaican father Mark Nelson faces deportation that worsens his mental health.

History

Historical Context

The UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015 created an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and, despite its victim-support aims, has been criticised for deporting trafficked asylum seekers. A 2020 Home Office report recorded a 14 % drop to 2,871 referrals during the pandemic. Medaille Trust’s call to delete the Immigration and Asylum Bill’s £10,000 repayment clause echoes these earlier policy tensions.

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Story summary

Medaille Trust urged the government to withdraw the modern-slavery provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The Bill imposes stricter credibility tests and a £10,000 repayment charge, which critics say conflates trafficking victims with irregular migrants and eliminates recovery periods.
Asylum seeker Frank, a homeless Nigerian, fears the repayment demand could force hidden work, while Jamaican father Mark Nelson faces deportation that worsens his mental health.

1 / 2