Keir Starmer faces backlash over new citizenship rules that deny naturalization to refugees arriving via small boats. Christina McAnea of Unison and nine Church of England bishops warn that this policy will create a second-class citizenship status and may incite far-right extremism and violence against migrants. A letter signed by 148 leaders calls on Yvette Cooper to reconsider the policy in light of recent attacks on refugee accommodations. The move comes amid concerns that the Labour Party is adopting a hardline stance to counter Reform UK's rise under Nigel Farage.
The new rules refusing citizenship to refugees who arrive in small boats will breed division and distrust and could fuel attacks on migrant hotels.
The policy could encourage a toxic politics that is manipulated by the far right to bring hate and disorder to our streets.
The letter asks Cooper to urgently reconsider the decision to effectively ban tens of thousands of refugees from ever becoming British citizens.
It was only last August that violent mobs sought to burn refugees alive in a hotel. Those communities are still healing from that violence.
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