Robert Jenrick blasts ‘sick joke’ ruling that allowed Gaza family to settle in UK
Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has launched a blistering attack on what he called a “sick joke” court ruling that allowed a Gaza family to settle in the UK through a scheme designed for Ukrainian refugees.
Speaking to GB News, Jenrick branded the decision “an outrageous example of judicial overreach” that effectively means “anyone from any conflict zone can come into the UK to be with any family member”.
They sought to join the father’s brother, who has been a British citizen since 2007.
The Home Office initially refused their application in May last year, determining they did not meet the scheme’s requirements.
After having their first appeal dismissed in September, the family won a subsequent appeal in January on human rights grounds.
Upper tribunal judges ruled in the family’s favour, citing Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life.
Robert Jenrick hit out at the decision
GB NEWS
“People’s blood will be boiling listening to this,” the Conservative MP declared.
The family of six from Gaza applied to enter Britain through the Ukraine Family Scheme after their home was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike.
Judge Hugo Norton-Taylor highlighted that the youngest children, aged seven and nine, faced “a high risk of death or serious injury on a daily basis” in Gaza.
The judge concluded there were “very compelling or exceptional circumstances” that outweighed the Home Office’s concerns about creating a precedent.
The family were living in a Gazan refugee camp after their home was destroyed by an air strikeGETTYThe Home Office had warned about potential “floodgates” for similar claims from other conflict zones.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to close the “loophole” that enabled the ruling, insisting that Parliament should set immigration rules.
However, Jenrick expressed deep skepticism about Labour’s commitment, telling GB News: “Keir Starmer and Lord Hermer are two peas in a pod. They always put the interests of those in the international circuit above those of our people in the UK.”
The former minister pointed out that Labour has “said very clearly they will always abide by those judges” and questioned how Starmer could address the issue given his stance on international law.
Jenrick called for the Home Office to take the case “all the way to the Supreme Court” to challenge the ruling.
He warned that if an appeal proves unsuccessful, legislative changes would be necessary, even if they conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The former minister emphasised the urgency of addressing what he sees as dangerous precedent, suggesting that without firm action, the Ukraine Family Scheme could be exploited in ways never intended.
“I want the Home Office to take this all the way to the Supreme Court, if that doesn’t work, we have got to change the law,” he insisted.