"We are scapegoating asylum seekers for the failures and political divisions caused by successive governments in the last 15 years the failures of successive governments to address wealth inequality, funding for education, the cost of living and primary healthcare and infrastructure. Every day I meet homeless people who have fallen through the cracks in our system. And yet in singling out asylum seekers we are laying the burden of society's problems on less than 1% of the UK population "
"There are politicians who are trying to hold on to compassion in public life. But at the same time there is a pressure to have a singular problem on which all things can be blamed. But we are a connected society. Our environmental crisis is deeply connected to the conflicts which lead to people to our borders. We can't isolate one section of people and label them as a problem that can be easily addressed."
Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce measures to review refugee status every two-and-a-half years, extend waits for permanent settlement to 20 years, and permit returns if countries are deemed safe. Mahmood described illegal migration as tearing the country apart. Rt Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah, bishop of Edmonton and the Diocese of London's lead for racial justice, said Mahmood's comments shook him and accused leaders of scapegoating asylum seekers for failures over the past 15 years. He cited unresolved wealth inequality, underfunded education, rising living costs, gaps in primary healthcare and infrastructure, and rising homelessness. Campaigners criticised the proposals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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