Still time to Be as smart as Gary - Protest the Illegal, Migration Bill : Add your name to our local petition.

[Preston City of Sanctuary]

There is still time this week to add your name to our petition. 

Click here https://forms.gle/HM9fkjKf1F1XEtJu8

NB… you do not need to sign in to a google account to take part.. Just ignore the message at the top

We hope you are aware of the Government's intention to make claiming asylum in the UK almost impossible, to detain them on arrival, and the threat to deport unsuccessful applicants (including children) to Rwanda or other third countries. Even the Home Office thinks the legislation may be illegal under international law. At Preston City of Sanctuary we think the proposals are both cruel and illegal, as well as being unworkable. We agree with Gary Lineker that the language used by the government to stoke up hatred against vulnerable people who are fleeing war, famine and persecution in their home countries is dangerous and alarming.

There are many online petitions circulating asking the government to think again. The point of this one is to build a community of solidarity locally in Preston and the surrounding area. If you agree with us and Gary please add your name to our campaign by 31st March.

We intend to present our petition to our two local Councils and local MPs, to the local media to ask them to support our campaign and then to the Home Secretary. 

See below some comments from people who have already signed the petition

Our country has for hundreds of years offered sanctuary to people fleeing poverty, war and persecution. Several MPs supporting this bill and their families have benefited from our sanctuary but now appear to be seeking to pull up the drawbridge.

All people have the right to a free and safe life. The language being used by the Home Office is appalling. 'There but for the grace of God go I'

Firstly, the bill is clearly in breach of the 1951 Refugee Convention, making Britain the first to renege on its international humanitarian commitment. Secondly, the bill will prevent genuine refugees in need of asylum from having their case heard, just because they find themselves unable to take advantage of a "legal" means of entry. Further, the means deemed "legal" usually require a visa to have been issued before travel, which almost all refugees are unable to obtain.. Thirdly, the bill appears to be merely a fire-fighting measure when the underlying problem is the government's failure to process asylum applications within a reasonable time and to provide housing for immigrants who wish to apply for job vacancies which employees are desperate to fill.

it is immoral to treat people fleeing from terror like this. it is also against international law

They feed on politically motivated fear. They fail to understand or solve the problems that are generated by global and political systems. They undermine human rights

It’s not illegal. People have a right to claim asylum. It’s not fair to create a two tier system i.e. those from approved countries and those deemed illegal. It’s not compassionate. It’s at odds with the Bible which teaches us to welcome the stranger. It’s not who we are as a country or what we believe and goes against our long standing history of giving such people a warm welcome. I’m ashamed and certainly angry about these proposals.

Sign up here .. and please share this link https://forms.gle/HM9fkjKf1F1XEtJu8

Many thanks, 

Greg Smith – on behalf of

Preston City of Sanctuary Team

See our website @ https://preston.cityofsanctuary.org/