Key facts
- Andy Burnham, Labour MP for Makerfield, voted for the government's immigration and asylum bill.
- The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons with 264 votes in favor and 90 against.
- The legislation aims to reduce small boat crossings and reform the asylum system.
- Fourteen Labour MPs rebelled and voted against the bill.
- The home secretary announced amendments to remove deportation protections for some Commonwealth citizens convicted of serious crimes.
Andy Burnham, the Labour MP for Makerfield, has supported the government's controversial immigration and asylum bill, voting for it at its second reading in the House of Commons. This decision comes amid significant dissent within the Labour party, with 14 MPs rebelling and voting against the legislation. The bill, which aims to tighten the UK's immigration system and reshape the asylum appeals process, passed by 264 votes to 90. Ministers state the legislation is intended to reduce Channel crossings and improve the asylum system's efficiency, including changes to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the introduction of independent adjudicators for appeals. However, critics, including some Labour backbenchers, argue the measures could lead to a more restrictive and costly system. The Conservatives also opposed the bill, believing it did not go far enough to curb irregular migration.