Heads of refugee advocacy groups write to condemn the government’s inadequate and hostile asylum polices. Plus letters from Mike Hodgson and Julie PlattTwo million people have now fled the bloodshed in Ukraine and with many more expected to do so, this could be the worst refugee crisis since the second world war. Seven decades ago in 1951, after the horrors of the world wars, the UK and other nations came together to sign the UN convention on refugees. It sets out that how a person arrives seeking protection does not matter. What matters is why – escaping war, conflict and oppression.Yet today we have a government that appears to show a callous disregard for the convention. It isn’t giving all Ukrainians fleeing violence the opportunity to come to our country as a refugee (Priti Patel under fire over chaotic Ukrainian refugee policy, 7 March). Instead, by setting up a limited and restricted family scheme and making a vague promise to establish some kind of humanitarian sponsorship programme, its response looks chaotic, heartless and unkind. Continue reading…
Heads of refugee advocacy groups write to condemn the government’s inadequate and hostile asylum polices. Plus letters from Mike Hodgson and Julie Platt
Two million people have now fled the bloodshed in Ukraine and with many more expected to do so, this could be the worst refugee crisis since the second world war. Seven decades ago in 1951, after the horrors of the world wars, the UK and other nations came together to sign the UN convention on refugees. It sets out that how a person arrives seeking protection does not matter. What matters is why – escaping war, conflict and oppression.
Yet today we have a government that appears to show a callous disregard for the convention. It isn’t giving all Ukrainians fleeing violence the opportunity to come to our country as a refugee (Priti Patel under fire over chaotic Ukrainian refugee policy, 7 March). Instead, by setting up a limited and restricted family scheme and making a vague promise to establish some kind of humanitarian sponsorship programme, its response looks chaotic, heartless and unkind.