Farry says UK Government’s new scheme for Afghan refugees “woefully inadequate”

The UK Government’s scheme to resettle Afghan refugees is woefully inadequate, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said.

The proposals are to resettle 20,000 Afghans, with only 5,000 places available this year. In addition, the Home Secretary has warned Afghans using illegal means to cross the English Channel “will claim asylum in the way in which people who enter our system are currently claiming asylum”.

North Down MP Dr Farry said the Government should grant automatic refugee status to Afghan asylum seekers currently in limbo in the UK, including those who are undocumented having had their asylum applications rejected.

“This scheme is woefully inadequate and the Home Secretary’s remarks on Afghans crossing the Channel are utterly reprehensible,” he said.

“The Government claims the UK cannot accommodate 20,000 people in one go – this is fundamentally untrue, out of step with devolved nations and feeds into racist myths around immigration.

“Until last week, the Home Office claimed Kabul was safe. This year alone, the Government rejected the asylum applications of 76 Afghan nationals, including ten women and one girl. People fleeing the Taliban have been deported back to face this horror and Afghans currently in the UK, living in fear and uncertainty, must be given unconditional protection.”