Tory MPs call for ban on immigrants with HIV and HEP B

A group of right-wing Conservative politicians unsuccessfully tried to ban immigrants with HIV and HEP B from entering the UK last week.

Dr Philip Lee, Conservative MP for Bracknell, tabled an amendment to the Immigration Bill making anyone with HIV or HEP B have to declare it when entering the country.

It is alleged 17 other Conservative MPs backed the proposed amendment including Stephen Barclay MP, Tracey Crouch MP and Dr Sarah Wollaston.

The proposal met with opposition from AIDS campaigners and was not considered by MPs before the bill was voted on at Third Reading. The Home Office distanced itself from the amendment, saying it did not reflect existing government policy and that the government had no plans to introduce health screening for conditions such as HIV or hepatitis.

The Immigration Bill minus the amendment passed with 295 votes to 16, and now goes to the House of Lords.

Daisy Ellis, Head of Parliamentary & Public Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It’s outrageous that a group of MPs are even proposing such an un-evidenced amendment.

“If implemented, it would represent the most draconian policy enforced on people with HIV by this country to date. It is to the UK’s credit that it’s Government, whatever its political stamp, has consistently refused throughout the past 30 years to put in place HIV-related border controls.

“Such a poorly thought through about-face would take UK HIV policy into a new Dark Age.’

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National AIDS Trust added: “The UK has for 30 years resisted entry restrictions and to introduce them at this stage would set us squarely against the international trend to overturn such rules.