Our focus during #ConservativePartyconference is pushing for fresh thinking on refugees and asylum. While Home Secretary seems determined to stick w/ current - failing - policy, we've been working w/ voices from across politics and beyond to come up w/ alternatives: 🧵THREAD:
Our proposals are in a new report written by Baroness Stroud, our CEO @EnverSol, @alexander_betts and Will Somerville. It makes a number of pragmatic and deliverable proposals for a system combining fairness w/ compassion for those forced on dangerous journeys.
A piece about this by Baroness Stroud and @EnverSol was in @timesredbox yesterday - see here (note paywall) thetimes.co.uk/article/bca51a…
Britain has a strong heritage of welcoming refugees. Despite this, asylum is a policy area most fraught w/ division and polarisation. Concerns about sustainability of the asylum system and Govt’s perceived lack of control of Britain’s borders contribute to this.
The absence of a coherent national refugee strategy compounds the problems further...
We desperately need a long-term vision if our response is to move from crisis management to compassionate and well-managed welcome. The principles which should govern this strategy must be that anyone fleeing war and persecution can access a fair hearing, safety and opportunity.
In practice this means diplomacy w/ our near neighbours to create safe routes, clearing the backlog of the 120k asylum cases which means lives in limbo at huge cost to public purse, and giving those stuck in this dreadful situation the right to work.
It also means abandoning the unworkable and inhumane Rwanda removals scheme and – critically – creating a National Refugee Strategy.
There is no reason that asylum and refugee policy should be divisive. We are pleased that people from different perspectives and backgrounds are calling for a reset. The new Home Secretary has the opportunity to make that a reality under this government. END OF THREAD
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