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Rights groups make last-ditch call on MPs to reject government's ‘callous’ Nationality and Borders Bill

MEMBERS of Parliament must act with humanity and reject the government’s “callous” Nationality and Borders Bill that aims to slam the door on refugees, campaigners said today.

Rights groups made last-ditch appeals to MPs to reject a series of anti-refugee measures in the legislation when it returns to the Commons on Tuesday. 

If passed, the Bill would lead to asylum-seekers being criminalised for entering Britain without permission and potentially sent to remote islands for processing.

A national day of action by the Together for Refugees coalition today involved a Manchester rally against the Bill, while a 200,000-signature petition organised by Freedom from Torture calling on ministers to rethink the legislation was handed into Downing Street. 

Meanwhile, trade unions and other employers’ organisations have called on MPs to back an amendment to the Bill introduced by peers, which would give asylum-seekers the right to work.

A public statement, signed by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Association of Labour Providers, National Farmers Union and Adecco, stresses that the business case for lifting the work ban is “more urgent than ever,” since there is record staff shortage across the country. 

“The needless rule to bar asylum-seekers from work not only has a negative impact on businesses and the economy, it has short and long-term effects on people seeking asylum themselves,” it reads. 

The amendment, passed by the Lords earlier this month, would give asylum-seekers the right to work after six months of waiting for a decision on their claim. 

It is among several amendments to the Borders Bill introduced by peers in an effort to limit the “harmful impact” of the legislation on the rights of refugees. 

They include removing the government’s plans to move asylum-seekers offshore and provisions to treat people differently according to how they entered Britain. 

The Lords also struck out proposals to criminalise the arrival of asylum-seekers in Britain without permission, as well as plans to expand citizen deprivation powers. 

But the government has rejected the majority of the changes and will be pushing Tory MPs to reinstate the provisions in the Commons on Tuesday. A small group of Tory MPs is expected to rebel on plans to hold asylum-seekers offshore, according to reports. 

Campaigners are urging MPs to accept the amendments. 

“As Europe faces the largest refugee crisis since the second world war, today this government will try to force its cruel Nationality and Borders Bill through Parliament,” said Freedom from Torture chief executive Sonya Sceats. 

“Make no mistake, any MP who votes on Tuesday for this callous, inhumane legislation is voting to slam the door in the face of refugees and torture survivors fleeing war, conflict and persecution, just when they need our help the most.”

Amnesty International UK refugee and migrant rights director Steve Valdez-Symonds said: “We urge MPs to accept amendments made by peers to moderate the dreadful impact the Bill will have on people fleeing persecution and survivors of human trafficking. 

“If ministers overturn these defeats, no-one could possibly regard the UK as anything but a state deeply and intentionally committed to undermining international law and harming people most in need of protection.”

Anti-racism campaigner Zita Holbourne appealed to MPs to act with humanity and consider the “human rights and equality impact” of the Bill. 

“As elected members of Parliament, do they really want to go down in history as the politicians who voted to take away human rights and promote racism?”

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