Father of immigration judge who ruled Gazan family can stay in Britain under Ukrainian scheme is anti-Israel campaigner who argued Britain should surrender Gibraltar and the Falklands

His father Richard Norton-Taylor, is a former Guardian journalist who regularly tweets about the Israel-Hamas war, often positioning himself against Israel, The Telegraph has revealed.

In March 2024, he endorsed an X petition calling for Haringey council in north London to “stop supporting genocide in Palestine”.

Two months later he urged his followers to write to their MPs calling for the Government to “recognise Palestine” without negotiations.

In December, he reposted a video of a banner covering Parliament Square by campaign group Led By Donkeys, which read: “Yes it’s a genocide”.

In 2016, he argued on BBC Two’s Daily Politics show that Britain should give back Gibraltar and the Falklands Islands.

His son Judge Hugo Norton-Taylor has been under fire for other controversial judgements in the past, such as recently allowing an Albanian man the right to stay in the UK because of his “close bond” with his Portuguese wife’s children from a previous marriage.

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Ramzan Morina smuggled himself into the UK at 16 year old, but failed twice to claim asylum.

The Home Office tried to deport him back to Albania, however his lawyers appealed this decision based on the right of respect for private family life outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

A social worker told the tribunal the man had developed a “very close bond” with his stepchildren, claiming a separation would cause them emotional harm.

The judge said he placed “significant weight” on the social worker’s conclusion that sending Morina back would have “detrimental effects” on his wife's children.

The Home Office argued that his wife and her children could move to Albania with Morina if they wanted to stay together.

However, the hearing was told she wanted to remain in Britain to be close to her ex-husband’s family.

The judge concluded it would be in the children’s best interest for Morina to stay with them.

A profile shared by the Judiciary Office said Norton-Taylor had been working on immigration cases for almost 15 years.