Religious and migrant groups unite against 'politics of division'

Source: Asylum Matters

More than 350 organisations - including religious groups, migrant and refugee groups - have signed a pledge to work together to combat "the politics of division". The statement, 'This is an island of solidarity, not strangers,' was organised by Asylum Matters and signatories include Jesuits and Columban missionaries.

The groups challenge anti-migrant sentiment by celebrating the "meaningful and enduring contributions" of those who've migrated, and highlighting their "inherent right" to "peace, dignity and hope". They condemn "the recent rhetoric of the Prime Minister, irresponsible politicians and that of the far-right" and commit to working together to "build a movement of solidarity and resistance that protects and defends the rights of all people."

They deplored the language and actions of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose warning that the UK could become an "island of strangers" came as he launched an immigration white paper, "featuring cruel measures to make it harder for people to settle and barring people from bringing their skills to this country to do vital work."

The letter says: "The politics of division are placing our communities under attack, including: migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum, racialised people, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, people living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet and survive, homeless people, those with care & support needs and many more."

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Asylum Matters: https://asylummatters.org/