A year ago, the Government was warned that there would be record numbers of people coming across the Channel in search of protection and that adequate contingency plans needed to be in place to support the men, women and children who would come to the UK to escape war, conflict and persecution. But the Government’s decisions have only worsened the situation, making our asylum system harsh and austere.
It is not too late to ensure we have an appropriate system in place that treats the men, women and children seeking refuge and security with dignity and respect, but we must act now! Your voice counts, and it's time to speak up and fight for a fairer asylum system.
Will you ask your MP to immediately put in place a plan that treats people with compassion and respect?
Dear MP,
I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the Government’s treatment of the women, men and children seeking asylum in the UK. Recent issues such as inhumane and dangerous crowding at processing centres and growing numbers of people waiting in limbo for a decision on their asylum claim highlight that our current system is failing the people who are most in need of it.
I believe that every person seeking refuge and security should be treated with dignity and respect. As your constituent, I am writing to you to ask that you speak in favour of the six-point action set out by the Refugee Council which ministers should immediately put in place:
- Deliver on the Prime Minister’s recent pledge to significantly reduce the backlog of people waiting for a decision on their asylum claim.
- Convene a summit of refugee and migration experts, local authorities and housing providers to examine options for short and long term accommodation for people seeking asylum.
- Quickly put in place good quality reception arrangements with access to health, therapeutic, welfare and legal support to meet all needs on arrival.
- Consider options for humanitarian visas which people seeking asylum could apply for at embassies and other official sites.
- Urgent talks with the French government and other EU countries to discuss the growing global refugee crisis and to further crack down on people smugglers.
- Give people seeking asylum the right to work after six months.
Behind every case there is a face. For every person risking their life in a boat on the channel or living their life in limbo in a hotel, separated from family, there is a human story. People come to the UK seeking protection because we have a reputation as a country which believes in the right to claim asylum. I hope that, like me, you take pride in this reputation and seek to uphold it by being an advocate for these people.
I look forward to receiving a response regarding your position on the asylum system.
Yours sincerely,
