Stop blaming migrants and tackle UK's real problems, 100 charities tell home secretary

"The government wants to deliver growth and renew Britain. This requires tackling issues such as growing extreme inequality, underfunded councils, lack of investment in quality housing, a crumbling NHS, the climate emergency and polluted waters, the letter says. Targeting refugees will do nothing to tackle these structural issues or improve people's lives. It only serves as a dangerous smokescreen to scapegoat the most vulnerable and distract from the very real dangers to our society."

"More than 100 charities have sent a letter to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, calling for an end to the scapegoating of migrants. The signatories have called on Mahmood to find solutions to problems with housing, the climate crisis and the NHS, and end the use of performative policies that cause harm. It urges the home secretary to work with local authorities, charities and refugees, who face the reality of the hostile policies and rhetoric, to find solutions."

"This summer, sometimes violent demonstrations outside hotels have intimidated people seeking asylum as well as a large far-right-organised rally in London earlier this month, with estimates that between 110,000 and 150,000 attended. Anger and division will never satisfy voters in the long term. They cause tensions in our communities, dividing us and tearing the social fabric of our society, the signatories warn."

More than 100 charities, including Save the Children, Mind, Oxfam, Shelter, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, plus dozens of migrant and anti-racism organisations and the PCS union, have called on the home secretary to end the scapegoating of migrants. The signatories demand solutions for housing, the climate crisis and the NHS and an end to performative policies that cause harm. They argue that the government must tackle extreme inequality, underfunded councils, poor housing investment, a crumbling NHS, the climate emergency and polluted waters rather than target refugees. Violent demonstrations and large far-right rallies have increased tensions and intimidated people seeking asylum. The charities urge collaboration with local authorities, charities and refugees to find durable solutions and warn that anger and division erode community cohesion.

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