Fanning hatred towards migrants is not right

REACTION to migrants braving the Channel in fragile boats seems to have produced more heat than light. The Home Secretary’s rhetoric of ‘crisis’ and ‘invasion’ hasn’t helped.

First, it may be noted that the total of migrants is small relative to the size of the UK population, and that their numbers have actually declined in comparison with recent years. Second, around 90% are said to be asylum seekers rather than economic migrants.

Evidently Britain cannot single-handedly pick up the pieces of global dysfunction, but in company with other nations it can do its share. In 2007 Sheffield declared itself a City of Sanctuary, and many other places including Loughborough, Leicester, Nottingham and Derby have since followed suit. Clearly the will and capacity are present to welcome and integrate people in distress.

Unfortunately government policy is moving in precisely the opposite direction in defiance of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to which Britain remains a signatory. Legislation proposes that people arriving in this country without permission will be criminalised and that immigration will be based on the benefit we can obtain rather than the help we can offer.

Fanning hatred towards migrants already traumatised by conflict and persecution has been denounced by faith leaders and others as hostile, immoral and inhumane. A monstrous response to a human catastrophe, it is claimed. Together with cuts in overseas aid this has damaged the UK’s global reputation, threatening the success of the vital UN COP26 climate conference to be chaired by Britain in November.

David Stevenson