1 May 2018

The Green Party has warned that Labour’s immigration policy raises “serious concerns which need addressing”, saying the party’s policies fall short of the progressive, humane system Britain needs.

The warning comes after Diane Abbott dismissed an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for ten years while appearing on Question Time last week (Thursday 26 April) [1], followed by Barry Gardiner saying he supports deportation targets on Daily Politics yesterday (Monday 30 April) [2].

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, called on progressive parties to stand together for:

• An overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making
• An end to deportation targets
• An end to the detention system
• A moratorium on charter flight removals
• An end of dehumanising language around migrants

Jonathan Bartley said:

“Scratch the surface of Labour’s immigration policy and there are serious concerns which need addressing. It has been disappointing to watch Diane Abbott’s dismissal of an amnesty for long term illegal immigrants, followed by Barry Gardiner’s support for deportation targets.

“At a time when it is more important than ever to hold the Government and the Home office to account, Labour falls short of the progressive, humane immigration policy we need. The official opposition should be standing up for those who have built their lives in Britain and contributed here, and calling for deportation targets to end for good.

“At this critical moment in the Home Office’s history progressive parties must fight together for an overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making, to shut down the cruel detention system, a moratorium on charter flight removals, and an end of dehumanising language around migrants.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-43920554/question-time-should-there-be-amnesty-for-illegal-immigrants

2. https://twitter.com/daily_politics/status/990918048633700352

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30 April 2018

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader, has called for the Home Office to be put in ‘special measures’ and for the new Home Secretary to end the hostile environment. She said the Prime Minister has overseen the ‘state-sponsored cruelty of Britain’s immigration system’.

Caroline Lucas said:

“Amber Rudd’s resignation was necessary, but it will not stop the rot. This latest crisis, and the hostile environment for migrants, goes to the heart of government – and has been overseen by the Prime Minister herself. She must take personal responsibility for overhauling the state-sponsored cruelty of Britain’s immigration system, put the Home Office in special measures and a appoint a new Home Secretary willing to ditch institutional callousness and indifference in this great office of state.

“A new Home Secretary should start their term in office with a radical shakeup of the system. That means pledging to end indefinite detention, a review of the cruel charter flights which ship people out of the country without recourse to justice – and a Commission to look at wider policy with a view to ridding the immigration system of the inhumanity which pervades it.”

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26 April 2018

The Green Party of England and Wales today responded to the news that the Home Office have had targets set for the deportation of undocumented migrants, despite Amber Rudd telling the house that they hadn’t. [1]

Co-leader Jonathan Bartley felt that the news was further proof that Theresa May’s “hostile environment” was fundamentally unjust.

“This has confirmed our worst fears about the Home Office. You can’t set targets for people you want to kick out without deciding that some people won’t get a fair hearing, because there’s a quota to meet by the end of the year.

“Add the context of the Windrush scandal to this whole affair and what you have is proof that the Home Office is rotten to the core and not acting in the interests of the most vulnerable. The fact that they’ve tried to cover this up shows that even they know this isn’t right.”

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/26/home-office-set-targets-for-deportation-of-illegal-immigrants-amber-rudd

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23 April 2018

The Green Party of England and Wales today expressed their anger at the Office of National Statistic report that the number of zero-hours contracts in UK rose by 100,000 in 2017. [1]

Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley said that today’s news underlined how the Conservative Party could not be trusted to uphold workers’ rights. He said:

“We are living in the age of insecurity under the Conservatives. How can anyone be expected to plan, to save or to live if they don’t know how long they are going to work or how much they will earn week to week?

“The Government has known that this was a problem for at least half a decade, and yet have continued to show complacency over insecure work. The Government needs to get a grip, and not just stem the tide of exploitative zero hours contracts but get rid of them altogether.” 

ENDS

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/23/number-of-zero-hours-contracts-in-uk-rose-by-100000-in-2017-ons

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12 April 2018

The Green Party has responded to reports of Britain planning to join the USA in bombing targets in Syria. 

Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“The horror of the chemical weapons attack in Douma, in Eastern Ghouta, at the weekend was truly sickening. The UK’s response must have the backing of parliament, debated and voted on by MPs free from party whips so they can decide on the evidence and with their conscience.

“The Green Party will always listen to all the evidence, and we are not persuaded that an attack would deter conflict. To the contrary, we believe there is a serious risk of further escalation which will only bring greater conflict and suffering to the people of the region. To bomb Assad without a serious, thought-out strategy risks making a horrific situation even worse, and this will be the key test of any British Government proposal.

“But tough action doesn’t have to mean military intervention and Britain should urgently explore every alternative to further bombing. This should start with a crack-down on Russia, including unilateral and international sanctions. Britain must also step up as a diplomatic leader and strain every sinew to get all relevant parties around the table for discussions to broker peace.

“In the longer term, and in recognition of the appalling failures of recent years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere, we must enhance and expand UN peacekeeping and peace-building capabilities. Britain must too urgently take more refugees from the region to join those already settled here.”

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