South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG)

c/o  Scotia Works
Leadmill Street
Sheffield S1 4SE

dignitynotdetention@yahoo.co.uk

9 April 2010

 

LETTER ON ASYLUM TO GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

 

We are writing on behalf of the organisations in South Yorkshire listed on the attached sheet which are concerned about the situation of those seeking asylum in our region after escaping from their own countries.

 

People seeking asylum have much to offer the communities of South Yorkshire but they are among the most vulnerable people in our region. They face a difficult life here, often with prolonged uncertainty about their future. They are not allowed to work. Some receive very limited financial support (now only £5 a day for single people) in the form of inflexible vouchers or personalised ‘azure cards’, but others are destitute. Legal support is inadequate. Fresh claims from within the UK have to be made personally in Croydon. Many of those seeking asylum suffer from mental and/or physical health problems, but their access to healthcare is restricted. They and their children can be detained for indefinite periods without the right of habeas corpus.  Their efforts to become integrated into this country are often frustrated by a lack of classes in English.

 

It is sometimes suggested that we need to treat people in this way in order to deter others from seeking asylum here. Research evidence gives no support to this argument. We should rather be guided by our regional traditions of hospitality and generosity towards those who are vulnerable.

 

We are asking you to pledge yourself to a more humane system by supporting the following reforms:

• Grant those seeking asylum the right  to work;
• Replace vouchers and azure cards with adequate cash support;
• End the detention of children and seek an Inquiry into the use of detention for adults;
• Give those seeking asylum full access to healthcare and to English courses;
• Give adequate legal aid and enough time to make legal representations;
• Allow fresh claims and submissions to be lodged with the nearest Borders Agency office and meet related travel costs.

 

We should be grateful if you would let Stuart Crosthwaite at the above address know within the next two weeks whether you can make these pledges. We intend to report to the media in South Yorkshire on the extent to which candidates support these pledges.

 

Yours sincerely,

Jim Steinke(South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group-  SYMAAG)

Robert Spooner(Asylum Seeker Support Initiative Short Term – ASSIST)

Sue Taylor(Sheffield Committee to Defend Asylum seekers –  CDAS- Sheffield)

Matt Sammons(Student Action for Refugees – Sheffield –STAR)

 

 

ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING THE LETTER ON ASYLUM TO GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

 

Africa Time Community Organisation – South YorkshireAsylum Seeker Support Initiative Short Term – Sheffield ASSIST  Asylum Seeker Support Initiative Short Term – Rotherham ASSIST   Black and Ethnic Minority Initiative – Barnsley   Barnsley Trades Council   Church Action on Poverty in Barnsley   Church Action on Poverty in Sheffield.   Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers -CDAS- Sheffield.   Diocese of Hallam Justice and Peace Commission   Diocese of Sheffield Board of Faith and Justice   Eastwood Methodist Church, Rotherham.   Greater Somali Community Network, Sheffield   Islamic Society of Britain – South Yorkshire Branch   Methodist Church – Sheffield District   Movement for Democratic Change (M).   Our Lady of St.James Church, Barnsley   Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Hillsborough, Sheffield.   Shalom Africa   Sheffield Amnesty International.   South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group  (SYMAAG)   See below for local candidates who said that they supported all 6 of our asylum election pledges

St Ann’s Church DeepcarSt Luke’s Church, Lodge Moor, Sheffield  St Marks Church, Broomhill, Sheffield   St Mary’s Church Penistone   St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Cantley, Doncaster   St William of York Roman Catholic Church, Sheffield   Student Action for Refugees (STAR – Sheffield)   Take Part – South Yorkshire   Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of Congo) UK Organisation   UAF (Unite Against Fascism) Barnsley   University and College Union, Barnsley College Branch   Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield   Zimbabwe Community Network Association – Sheffield

 

Constituency	Candidate	Party
Sheffield Hallam	Nick Clegg	Liberal Democrat
Sheffield Hallam	Steve Barnard	Green
Sheffield Hallam	Martin Fitzpatrick	Independent
Sheffield Central	Jillian Creasy	Green
Sheffield Central	Paul Scriven	Liberal Democrat
Sheffield Brightside	Maxine Bowler	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Sheffield Heeley	Simon Clement-Jones	Liberal Democrat
Sheffield Attercliffe	Clive Betts	Labour
Rotherham	Rebecca Taylor	Liberal Democrat
Rother Valley	Kevin Barron	Labour
Barnsley Central	Eric Illsley	Labour
Barnsley East	John Brown	Liberal Democrat