Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Horrified’ faith leaders demand changes to bill
A former Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Dover have co-signed a letter demanding the government’s tough new immigration bill is changed.
The Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin is one of more than 1,000 signatories from leaders of six major religions who are ‘horrified and appalled’ about its potential repercussions.
Others include former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.
The group had the letter published on Monday when the Nationality and Borders Bill entered its final stages in the House of Lords.
The group says that in the context of rising global conflict, including this week in Ukraine, the way the Bill undermines the UK’s ability to support all people fleeing conflict is even more prominent.
The letter, directly to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, says: “We are horrified and appalled about the potential repercussions of the Nationality and Borders Bill. We urge you to reconsider the proposals even at this late stage. While there is still conflict and injustice in the world, there will always be desperate people needing to seek sanctuary from war, persecution and suffering. We cannot close our door on them, but this Bill does just that.”
The signatories want the Government to abandon its plans to criminalise and restrict the rights of all people arriving in the UK seeking refugee protection outside pre-arranged schemes. This would include those coming via irregular routes, such as by boats or lorries.
The letter says: “We have seen no credible evidence that it will stop irregular migration across the English Channel: it is therefore, policy made without a basis in evidence or morality.
“Criminalizing and punishing vulnerable asylum seekers who have little choice but to arrive in the UK through ‘irregular routes’ is a disgraceful and dishonourable policy, and should be abandoned.”
The signatories also say the Government must deal with the failure to establish safe routes through the Bill, which would help people seeking sanctuary reach the UK.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government has a proud history of supporting people in need, including those in Ukraine, and that is not about to change. he Nationality and Borders Bill, which has already been backed by MPs, will deliver the most comprehensive reform in decades to protect the vulnerable and ensure fairness in our asylum system. We will be able to differentiate between those who arrive here through safe and legal routes and those who arrive here having had the opportunity to claim asylum already in a safe country.”
More than 28,300 people crossed the Channel in 2021, triple 2020’s figure. On Friday, 132 people were intercepted on four different boats.