campaigns > action matters!

CUT AND PASTE THIS LETTER AND SEND TO YOUR CONSERVATIVE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE

I am writing as someone in your constituency who shares many of the concerns of the Centre for Social Justice's ‘Asylum Matters’ report. The report shows clearly that the asylum system has lost the respect of people seeking asylum and the British public.

As a nation we are rightly proud of the fair and full legal processes of this country. Unfortunately this is not the case when it comes to the way asylum claims are dealt with. ‘Asylum Matters’ makes some very sensible recommendations for improving the quality of initial decisions, to get it right in the first place.  

Britain has a history of giving protection and refuge to people fleeing persecution. I want an asylum system to be proud of, and one that people seeking asylum will respect the outcome of. ‘Asylum Matters’ clearly shows how inhumane and counter-productive it is to give limited or no support to people refused asylum – usually they end up destitute. Pushing people towards the underground economy is in no one's interest.  

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) propose a temporary license to work for those people who are here for more than six months. I hope you agree that this embodies the British principle of “work for those who can, and support for those who can't.” People seeking and refused asylum should and can be seen as assets and opportunities rather than spongers and criminals.   

The CSJ also suggest that ‘for those asylum seekers whose claim has been refused but who cannot be returned home, a temporary licence for paid employment and the opportunity to contribute to their own support is recommended.’ This is something I know many agencies working with asylum seekers, such as Refugee Action and Church Action on Poverty, agree with.  

It also highlights the pressing and desperate need for asylum seekers to be supported after refusal so that they have time to come to terms with their asylum decision and decide what to do next.

The CSJ have exposed that government is wrong to suggest that treating asylum seekers with dignity somehow acts as a "pull factor". There are many reasons why refugees end up in Britain but being a "soft touch" isn't one of them. These are just a few of the points from this report that I know Refugee Action and Church Action on Poverty are in agreement with.   

I am writing to you to ask you to read the CSJ’s report, and to do what you can to influence the Immigration & Citizenship Bill that is going through Parliament in early 2009, in order to help end destitution among refused asylum seekers.  

Yours sincerely

[Your name]

Find your Conservative Prospective candidate here

back to Action Matters

 

back to top