MAY MUST ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE ACCESSING THEIR OWN HOME OFFICE DATA

Stockton Liberal Democrats spokesman, David Minchella, is very concerned about Theresa May's refusal to maintain people's access to their own data in the Home Office.

"There are many EU27 citizens in Stockton who are extremely worried about their future here in the UK after Brexit, as well as others where the Home Office holds information on them which could be life changing. They must be able to see and check the data on themselves. They cannot possibly be expected to trust the Home Office on something so important to their lives and work here. I wouldn't, would you?"

Lib Dem MP Ed Davey said:

"Deporting British people, who have spent fifty years making a life here because the Home Office destroyed their papers - it's a disgrace. To add insult to injury, the Home Office is now trying to block the scrutiny that made discovering the Windrush scandal possible.

In the Data Protection Bill, there's a clause that would remove rights to access any immigration-related data the Home Office holds on you, including citizenship.

That would mean you'd have no way to check if the data the Home Office holds on you is right.

And the Home Office continually get things wrong - from mistaken identity to incorrect personal details. This new clause would stop people discovering those mistakes that can lead to grotesque injustices - and mean the Home Office could cover up the next Windrush."

David Minchella adds. "We want this disgraceful clause out of the bill. If this new law goes ahead, the legal right to access your own data on any immigration issue will be taken away: you will not be able to check if Home Office records on you are correct.

I have signed up to this petition, and urge everyone else to, too."