John,

On Wednesday Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer traded verbal blows at Prime Ministers Questions over asylum policy.

The Conservatives want to stop people travelling in small boats across the English Channel and prevent anyone arriving “illegally” from claiming asylum.

Labour will make the system more efficient to speed up returns and “smash” the gangs profiting from people smuggling.

Absent from the exchanges was respect and compassion for an incredibly vulnerable group of people and acknowledgement of the terrible circumstances – war, persecution and increasingly the climate crisis - that lead to people fleeing their home countries.

We must take a stand against the Government’s shameful Illegal Migration bill which is unlawful and cruel and cynically divisive.

The Green Party recognises the world is an unstable place and supports setting up safe and legal routes for everyone claiming asylum.

This is the only moral way forward and will prevent people from having to resort to such desperate measures as travelling in small boats to enter the UK.

We proudly welcome refugees and will fight for compassionate and just asylum policies that help - not persecute - people in need.

Thanks for your support. 

The Green Party