Caroline Nokes

• Member of the Privy Council

Timeline

During her time in Parliament Caroline has served on the Environmental Audit and Education Select Committees, and was Chair of the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art. Caroline has served as a Principal Private Secretary at the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Transport. ref

• 2010: elected as the MP for Romsey and Southampton North in Hampshire.
• 2014–2015: Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Work & Pensions.
• In Jan.2018: Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office, a Cabinet position.
• Jul.2016–Jul.2017: Minister for Welfare Delivery at the DWP.

Articles

• Jul.16.2018: Widowed father ordered to leave UK against advice of Home Office's own lawyers. Andrew Farotade refused leave to remain under rules intended to tackle terrorism. The Home Office’s own lawyers advised them to drop the case. The Home Office made errors by comparing part of Farotade’s gross earning to his net earnings, then accusing Farotade of deceit when the different periods resulted in different incomes. The Home Office also said Farotade had been dishonest by amending his tax records when he discovered an error, despite his accountant writing to the Home Office to admit liability. The HMRC, in contrast, accepted Farotade’s amendment without censure, and an independent chartered accountant submitted expert evidence that it is not deceitful to amend tax returns. Farotade’s case is important because it highlights what appears to be the disproportionate use of paragraph 322(5) and the tactical way the Home Office uses it to enforce removals, even against the advice of their own lawyers. ... Caroline Nokes, immigration minister, recently said the interim results of the review showed that the controversial paragraph 322(5) of the Immigration Rules was overwhelmingly only being used against migrants who had abused the system. She also wrote to the Home Affairs select committee to say that the majority of cases that go to the second stage of judicial review are decided in the Home Office’s favour. But what she didn’t say is that the Home Office frequently agrees to reconsider cases and pay applicants’ legal costs just before the second stage is due to be heard. The Home Office do not have to justify their use of Section 322(5). Amelia Hill, The Guardian.

• Mar.16.2018: Bill to reunite refugees with families will make their lives harder. We are already halfway towards our commitment to resettle 20,000 people through the vulnerable person's resettlement scheme and have also committed to resettle a further 3,000 people through the vulnerable children's resettlement scheme. There are good reasons why we are prioritising these resettlement routes to support the most vulnerable people, such as those who are stuck in refugee camps in Jordan or Lebanon. They provide safe and legal routes for individuals and families fleeing war and persecution to get to the UK. Those who — with all good intention — try to promote and encourage alternative pathways to the UK could be putting the people they are trying to help in danger. This is the possible outcome if Angus MacNeil's private members bill is allowed to pass through the House at its second reading today. Mr MacNeil is calling for us to open our family reunion policy to allow refugees to bring many more extended family members to the UK then we currently allow — regardless of whether they need protection, are living in conflict zones or had even formed a family unit before they left. Caroline Nokes, The Times.

• Jul.17.2016: New ministerial and government appointments announced. More ministerial and government appointments including Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State and Whips have been announced. Caroline Nokes MP as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work & Pensions. Number 10 Downing Street.