As I reflect on 2024, I am grateful that so many people and groups up and down the country continue to stand together with refugees and are willing to take action for change. I was especially heartened by the acts of kindness and care we saw in response to the far right attacks this summer. Communities came together to stand in solidarity with refugees and immigrants and denounce the spread of racism, Islamophobia and anti-migrant hate.
This year we have stood side by side with refugees across the country to call for something better – a kinder, fairer and more compassionate asylum system in the UK. In December last year we launched the Fair Begins Here campaign, calling for a commitment to a fair new plan for refugees from the new government taking office after the election. Over the last 12 months we have done much to grow this call, from showing the love for refugees on Valentines Day to hundreds of organisations – including trade unions, schools, faith groups and businesses – signing the Fair Begins Here Promise. Together we ensured politicians from all parties heard from diverse and powerful voices calling for a fair new plan for refugees in the media and stood up for refugee rights during the General Election. Now, with a new Parliament we are asking MPs to sign the Fair Begins Here Parliamentary Promise, and commit to take action to secure a better approach for refugees in the UK. Thank you for doing so much this year.
With a new Government and Parliament we are now starting to see the impact of all this work. Thanks to your collective pressure and effort, the Rwanda scheme was scrapped and the Government is taking some steps to improve the system. From discontinuing the Bibby Stockholm barge and creating a new pathway for family reunion for Afghan evacuees, to extending the move-on period and admitting people to the asylum system who had been left in limbo by the Illegal Migration Act, they have begun to listen to our demands.
As the year draws to a close and we reflect on our work, we can be proud of what we have achieved. But we can not lose sight that much more is needed. The current asylum system is still too uncaring, unfair and harmful and the Government, some politicians and much of the media continues to focus on border security, returns and the use of detention centres rather than the deep systemic change we all know is needed. This isn’t good enough. But determined, united campaigning can change this.
As we look ahead to 2025, we know we must keep the pressure up to secure our goal of a truly compassionate, fair and effective approach to supporting refugees. This means increasing our efforts by organising and projecting our broad, united and loud movement and getting support from MPs of all parties and from all corners of the UK. This is why I am so excited about our new Campaign Organising Network which will build local power for national change. We have a once in a generation opportunity to build connections with and influence the new Government and Parliament. Unfortunately, politicians too often hear from the small, but vocal, minority who push division and hostility. So it is crucial they also hear loud and clear from us about our call for a fair new plan for refugees. With legislation on the way next year, now is the time for politicians to truly understand that we are the majority and we are demanding change. I look forward to working with you on this over the coming year.
Leila Zadeh, Executive Director at Rainbow Migration and member of Together With Refugees leadership group
