UK Passes Immigration Bill Ending Free Movement

The United Kingdom passed an Immigration Bill through Parliament on Monday that will end free movement from Dec. 31 forward.

What Happened: The bill gives the U.K. the power to determine who comes to the country for the first time in decades. The new migration policy brings an end to free movement in the middle of an economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.

Why It’s Important: The U.K. is no longer a member of the European Union, and the country’s transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year, with new rules from January 2021.

The bill has come under huge criticism.

The act of pursuing a new migration policy and ending free movement in the middle of a health and economic crisis — as the U.K. Home Office has done — is being described as “jaw-droppingly stupid” by one politician.