More than 130 refugee and human rights groups have asked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stop using strong and negative words about migrants. This happened after he made some comments before a meeting on people smuggling that upset many people.
The comments were made before the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London on March 31. This event brought together more than 40 countries to talk about ways to stop organised immigration crime, including people-smuggling gangs.
At the summit, Starmer said that weak border controls affect everyone. He mentioned the cost of supporting migrants and the pressure they place on public services. He described it as a matter of fairness.
In response, the organisations sent an open letter to the prime minister. The letter says this is not the time to create division between communities and refugees. Instead, they want the country to move away from hostile and negative language, and focus on bringing people together.
The letter was signed by 136 organisations across the UK. These include refugee support groups, unions, and human rights groups. Some of them are 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, and the Public and Commercial Services Union.
The letter reminded the prime minister of the attacks that happened last summer when some people tried to burn hotels housing asylum seekers. The groups said that these events show the danger of using words that make people fear or blame refugees.
The letter also criticised the summit’s focus on stopping smugglers. The groups believe the government should instead create safe and legal ways for refugees to reach the UK, so they do not have to risk their lives with smugglers.
Tim Naor Hilton, the chief executive of Refugee Action, said that the government needs to stop using words that blame migrants. He warned that such language can lead to more hate and violence in communities, just like the riots seen last summer. He said the UK needs a fair asylum system that protects people and respects their rights.
Nico Ndlovu, a member of One Strong Voice, also spoke out. He said the prime minister’s comments ignore the suffering of migrants and their contributions to the country. He said the government should stop using hostile language and instead create a fair and well-managed asylum system.
The groups are calling for a new refugee plan that is based on care and fairness. They want faster decisions for asylum seekers, safe ways for people to enter the UK, and more work with other countries to deal with the causes of migration.
A government spokesperson said the prime minister is focused on stopping dangerous gangs who take advantage of vulnerable people. They said this work is part of the government’s plan to protect the country and bring change to the current system.