Right now, tens of thousands of people in the UK are banned from working while they wait for a decision on their asylum claim — a process that can take years. This harms their wellbeing, wastes a wealth of skills and experience and costs the wider economy.

Research from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research shows that lifting this ban could boost tax revenue by £1.3 billion and cut Government spending by £6.7 billion. Yet current rules only allow people to work after a year, and even then, only in jobs on the restrictive Immigration Salary List which acts as an effective ban on working.

That’s why the Lift the Ban coalition, a network of over 300 charities, trade unions, businesses, faith groups, and think tanks, is calling for the right for people seeking asylum to work after six months. This event brings together a panel of experts, including people with lived experience, business leaders and policy advocates to explain why change is needed now, and how you and your organisation can help make it happen.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

6:15pm: Discussion begins

7:30pm: Discussion ends, stay for drinks and networking

8:00pm: Event ends.

Speakers

Ruth Lister is a Labour peer and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Loughborough University. She is a member of the All Party Parliamentary on Refugees and on Migration. Among her other roles, she is Honorary president of the Child Poverty Action Group and patron of the Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum.

Cathy Lebadou is an award-winning Human Rights Activist and the Co-production Hub Coordinator at Greater Manchester Homeless Action Network who is well known for being an ambassador of the Lift the Ban Campaign with Refugee Action. Cathy is a trustee at Mustard Tree Charity and she also served on the Board of Refugee Action with a lead role in the Asylum Crisis where she championed inclusive recruitment and capacity-building for individuals with lived experience—transforming representation on Senior Leadership Teams and Charity Boards. As an ambassador for the Lift the Ban Campaign, Cathy has been instrumental in shaping national discourse around asylum seekers’ right to work, using narrative power to drive systemic change. Cathy continues to influence policy and practice through her commitment to equity, justice, and meaningful inclusion. Her voice remains vital in reimagining how lived experience informs and leads social change.

Anoosh Chakelian is Britain Editor of the New Statesman and an award-winning social affairs journalist. She covers politics, policy and social affairs across Britain and interviews high-profile figures. She is host of the award-winning New Statesman Podcast and co-presents the Westminster Reimagined podcast series with Armando Iannucci. She appears regularly on national media as a commentator on current affairs.