Sanctuary and Fairness for All in Preston: Statement issued in light of the far right protest to be held on 13th September
Preston City of Sanctuary
Press release September 2025
Sanctuary and Fairness for All in Preston: Statement issued in light of the far right protest to be held on 13th September
We know many people in our communities are under real pressure. Years of underfunded public services, the cost of living crisis, and the lasting impact of Covid have left many families struggling. These problems are real, and people have every right to be angry.
But blaming people who have come here seeking safety will not solve them. In fact, people in asylum accommodation represent only a tiny fraction of the population in Preston and across the UK, While the UK’s housing shortage stands at over 1.3 million homes, and NHS waiting lists at around 7 million appointments. These challenges will not be fixed by scapegoating.
The reliance on hotels for asylum accommodation was introduced by the previous government because of its failure to process claims. This left people stuck in limbo, unable to work, and created costs that benefited private contractors rather than local communities.
The current government has committed to ending hotel use and is beginning new pilot schemes for alternative housing, which hopefully will offer a fairer and more sustainable way forward.
Preston is proud to be a City of Sanctuary. That means we want to ensure everyone here, whether newly arrived or long settled, is treated fairly, feels safe, and has the chance to contribute. We know that refugees bring skills, resilience, and determination, and with the right support they strengthen our economy and enrich our communities.
We urge Preston residents to recognise how fear and misinformation are being used to divide us. The real fight is for decent housing, fair wages, and properly funded services — things that benefit all of us.
Together, we:
Reaffirm Preston’s commitment to dignity, fairness and welcome for all residents.
Condemn intimidation, violence or harassment of vulnerable people who have no choice about where they are housed.
Commit to working with residents, charities and services to tackle misinformation, build trust and strengthen community cohesion.
We know times are hard. But turning on each other will only make them harder. The challenges we face can be met — if we stand together for fairness, decency, and solutions that work for all.
Signed
Preston City of Sanctuary
Cllr Matthew Brown
Cllr Nweeda Khan
Cllr Anna Hindle
Cllr Samir Vohra
Cllr Mel Close
Cllr Amber Afzal
Cllr Valerie Wise
Cllr Suleman Sarwar
Cllr Carol Henshaw (Independent)
Cllr Zafar Coupland
LCC County Councillors:
Michael Lavelette
Alma’s Razakazi
Yousuf Motala
Many thanks,
Greg Smith – on behalf of
Preston City of Sanctuary Team
See our website @ https://preston.cityofsanctuary.org/