Earlier this month, the Labour Party issued an 86-page policy handbook, setting out its draft programme for a Starmer government. On asylum policy, the document emphasises Conservative failings; the need for strong action to tackle channel crossings; ending the backlog of asylum decisions by more efficiency; restoring casework targets and fast-track processing for safe countries where people can be returned; plus a crackdown on the criminal gangs that are fuelling small boat crossings, with a new cross-border police unit with officers based throughout Europe.

Emma Jones, Bill MacKeith and Liz Peretz from the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed propose an alternative approach.

To develop a welcoming and humane approach to those who seek asylum with us, we will support all asylum seekers and other ‘undocumented’ migrants by working in solidarity with them, not punishing them.

We will reject scapegoating and the use of cruel and deeply divisive policies and discriminatory labelling.

We will repeal the Nationalities and Borders Act 2022, along with the Illegal Migrant Act 2023 and all hostile environment legislation.

We will close all detention centres, introducing community based alternatives, and we will clear the backlog of applications.

People seeking asylum should have the same rights as others – the right to work, to education, to health and welfare from day one.

Labour members are encouraged to pass this policy at their CLP and get National Policy Forum members to submit it as an amendment to the existing proposal.

Image: Migrants in the English Channel. Creator: Sandor Csudai. Copyright: Sandor Csudai. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)