UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Keir Starmer faces calls to tone down anti-migrant rhetoric following controversial comments at the International Immigration Crime Summit, from rights groups.
As reported by the Guardian, over 130 refugee and human rights organizations have called on Keir Starmer to stop demonising migrants after his comments at a people-smuggling summit.
What triggered criticism of Starmer’s immigration summit remarks?
The backlash was expressed in a letter to the British Prime Minister, coordinated by the Together With Refugees campaign coalition.
In response to comments made before the Organised Immigration Crime Summit on 31 March, where over 40 countries gathered in London to tackle people-smuggling gangs.
Keir Starmer said during the summit,
“But we all pay the price for insecure borders – from the cost of accommodating migrants to the strain on our public services. It is a basic question of fairness.”
What did Together With Refugees say in their open letter to Keir Starmer?
In an open letter to the Labour leader, the organisations say,
“Now is not the time to play into the hands of those seeking to build them-and-us division between local communities and refugees. It is time to move away from the hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past and unite our communities for a different way forward.”
The letter states,
“You told us this week that immigration is a basic question of fairness. We agree. But the searing experiences of last summer, when hate-filled mobs tried to burn down hotels hosting asylum seekers, make it clear that the path to fairness is not to be found in those pitting local communities against refugees seeking safety from persecution and war.”
The letter also criticizes the summit’s emphasis on addressing smuggling gangs, stating,
“Rather than the border security summit’s focus on expensive new ways to disrupt people smugglers, often making the journey more dangerous for refugees, the government should be looking at safe routes for refugees to get here without risking their lives.”
The letter also urges a well-managed refugee plan with rapid asylum decisions and safe routes. It calls for stronger global efforts to tackle the causes of displacement.
Who are the signatories of the open letter to Keir Starmer?
A coalition of 136 signatories comes from a diverse range of UK organizations, including:
- City of Sanctuary UK
- Choose Love
- Freedom from Torture
- One Strong Voice
- Rainbow Migration
- Refugee Action
- Refugee Council
- Safe Passage International
- Scottish Refugee Council
- Welsh Refugee Council
- Public and Commercial Services Union
What did the government say about the fight against people-smuggling gangs?
A government spokesperson stated,
“As the prime minister made clear, there is nothing compassionate about turning a blind eye to the vile gangs who ruthlessly exploit vulnerable people and trade in human misery. This is why we have launched an unprecedented global fight against these criminals to secure our borders as part of our plan for change.”
What did Tim Naor Hilton say about divisive language and immigration?
Tim Naor Hilton, CEO of Refugee Action, stated,
“We need the prime minister and his government to be brave and ditch the divisive language that scapegoats migrants, including refugees and people seeking asylum.”
He said,
“Hostile policies and rhetoric risk fuelling more of the racist, Islamophobic and anti-immigrant riots that tore through our communities last summer.”
Mr Hilton added,
“The government must use language that focuses on unity and community resilience, and develop a new asylum system that is grounded in rights and justice.”
What did Nico Ndlovu say about Starmer’s remarks on asylum?
Nico Ndlovu from One Strong Voice raised concerns over Keir Starmer’s comments, stressing that,
“The prime minister’s words this week make no recognition of our suffering and why we desperately need to find safety, or our contribution to this country, its economy, and culture.”
He added,
“It’s painful to hear him add his voice to this kind of hostile rhetoric. Rather than this summit’s narrow and expensive focus on people smugglers, we need a proper vision for the asylum system, with a plan that is fair, compassionate and well managed.”
Yvette Cooper’s views on changing employment laws
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that the government would modify employment laws to punish firms that hire individuals without the proper visa, even if they are contractors.
She said,
“We are reviewing this area to make sure that the immigration and asylum system works effectively in the way that parliament intended it to and make sure that there is a proper sense of control in the system.”