The House of Lords has rejected Clause 11 of the anti-refugee bill
Last night the House of Lords voted against one of the most unfair and cruel parts of the government’s anti-refugee bill. They voted by 204-126 to remove Clause 11, which would allow the government to pick and choose to which refugees it gives protection. At the moment, we judge all asylum seekers in the same way, based how badly they need our help. But Clause 11 would change that. It would mean that instead of respecting the principle that all people deserve fairness, our government could subjectively decide which people it wants to help. Of course the government doesn’t …
The UK should take its share
In his piece for the Mirror, David Blunkett says that what is happening, here in Europe, brings home – vividly – the horror of global displacement, which already bedevils so many parts of the globe. That is why the government’s Nationality and Borders bill, currently in its key stages in its House of Lords, is both irrelevant and in humane in the face of human misery. Outdated, unworkable in many of its proposals and deeply xenophobic in its outlook. The Bill would remove the right to seek safety unless you have a passport and visa, creating a two-tiered system. …
RNLI donations increase
The RNLI has had a “significant” increase in annual donations after it went to the aid of asylum seekers. “We’ve had a better response to almost everything that we’ve done in 2021,” said Jayne George, the RNLI’s Fundraising director. “At the end of the year, we’re going to have more members, we’re going to have more cash donors and more people who give to us via direct debit,” she said, adding that the charity’s database of supporters had also grown appreciably, with the organisation now in regular contact with 300,000 people. Read the full story here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/02/rightwing-attacks-rescues-uk-lifeboat-charity-fundraising-rnli-royal-national-lifeboat-institution …
Were taking the government to court over pushbacks
We’re taking the Government to court to stop dangerous push backs of flimsy boats in the Channel – and we need your support. We’re proud to be bringing this claim alongside the PCS Union, who represent Border Force’s own officials. They’re aghast at the thought that they will be forced to implement such a cruel and inhumane policy. Push backs are incredibly dangerous, and risk lives at sea. Following the recent horrific drownings of 27 people in the Channel, it is simply unthinkable that anything be done to risk further loss of life. But before we go ahead, we have …
Helping refugees on Mitzvah Day
An old Jewish saying says, “Old minds have the to create history, and young minds have the power to change history”. A few days ago on Mitzvah Day I saw how true that saying is. Falling on a Sunday in November each year, Mitzvah Day is a day when Jewish people come together to give their time and effort to social action and community. This year the children (and parents) of Brondesbury Park Synagogue in north-west London came together to support local refugees and asylum seekers. They collected toiletries and gifts at our local Sainsbury’s throughout the day, and people …
Hastings lifeboat crew abused and blocked from launching
On Hastings beach on Saturday, the RNLI lifeboat was reportedly prevented from launching by people deliberately standing in its way. The crew were being called out to save people in danger on the sea. At that point, no one knew who was being rescued, but at least one man blocking the path shouted: “Don’t being no more back home, here [sic]! That’s why we stopped our donations!” It was a clear, chilling reference to the Hastings RNLI’s rescue of many imperilled refugees attempting to cross the channel in small boats. It is unclear how many people were involved, but we …
An appeal from Calais
Overwhelmed? So are we – but we desperately need your help. We quite simply have to make this ask. Why? We are in Calais, right now supporting those affected by the Channel tragedy. And as we move into the bitter cold winter, conditions in Calais are set to detroriate at an alarming speed. Already, refugees are cold and wet. Thin clothes are being soaked through. The little warmth they have at night is lost when police confiscate sleeping bags. Sanitation is pitiful and due to food bans we struggle to distribute food. People are hungry. And this is all …
Another shocking eviction at Dunkirk
Today 300 French police brutally evicted hundreds of refugees, including many families with young children, from the camp in Dunkirk. Officers armed with riot shields surrounded the camp early on Tuesday morning. Surprised and alarmed, refugees had to pack their belongings hurriedly, fearful of tents being slashed and possessions taken. Between 1000 and 1500 people were estimated to be living in the Dunkirk camp. As we reported on Sunday, living conditions have become atrocious, with overcrowding worsening the muddy ground, and the lack of shelter exposing tents to the wind. Having endured life there, refugees were now bussed off …
