Responding to Labour's promise to restore the right to asylum

This week, Labour leader Kier Starmer set out his party’s plan to reduce Channel crossings. Here’s our response to their promises to scrap the asylum ban and help child refugees reach family in the UK.

Katie Morrison, CEO at Safe Passage: “We’re really pleased to see Labour promise to restore the right to ask for protection, by scrapping the unfair ban on asylum and the cruel Rwanda plan with it.  

“We’re also very encouraged that Labour is keen to work with the EU to help child refugees reunite with their family in the UK. For the unaccompanied children we work with, family reunion is a vital route to protection. Being able to hug and hold family again after being torn apart by war and persecution should not be too much to ask. 

“This is a positive step towards a more compassionate approach for people seeking safety, but to prevent people taking dangerous Channel crossings new safe routes must be opened. By providing refugees with safe routes to get here, the UK can finally disrupt the smuggling business model, save lives and uphold the UK’s commitment to protect refugees.”