These are the policies we think the Labour Party should aim for. This is intended to be a comprehensive list which reflects our ideals. The focus, as per our mission, is on refugees’ and asylum seekers’ rights and welfare, both when seeking access to the UK and after their arrival. The three asks we want to see the Labour Party fight for as a matter of priority before the next election are:

1. Closing all immigration detention centres and all camp-based refugee and asylum seeker accommodation.

2. Increasing safe and legal routes to the UK, whilst maintaining rights for those who come to the UK through irregular routes.

3. Combatting all efforts to introduce offshore processing.

We believe that the Labour Party should fight for:

• A better asylum system through:

  • Ending deportation of asylum seekers.

  • Creating greater access to family reunion through expansion of the eligibility criteria and increased funding and support for applicants.

  • Increasing funding for the processing of asylum claims to reduce waiting times for decisions and speed up access to housing and financial support.

  • Reviewing the asylum system to make it fairer and more welcoming.

  • Ending the hostile environment in reality as well as in name, to reduce the need for appeals to asylum decisions and to end the treatment of asylum seekers as criminals.

• Better treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK through:

  • Closing all immigration detention centres and all camp-based refugee and asylum seeker accommodation.

  • Increasing the value of asylum support payments.

  • Ending No Recourse to Public Funds.

  • Ending the NHS surcharge.

  • Fighting for an anti-racist party where members and officials stand up for refugee rights and welfare in their rhetoric and combat views which demonise refugees.

  • Granting the right to work whilst applying for refugee status.

  • Increasing access to refuges for vulnerable or abused asylum seekers and refugees.

  • Increasing integration support for refugees and asylum seekers including: adequate housing in an area of their choosing; free English-language classes; full access to healthcare and education; and a case-worker on achieving refugee status to aid in finding education or employment.

  • Combatting all efforts to introduce offshore processing.

• Increased ease of coming to the UK for refugees and asylum seekers through:

  • Increasing safe and legal routes to the UK (including expanding refugee resettlement schemes), whilst maintaining rights for those who come to the UK through irregular routes.

  • Increasing free movement across borders, including the right to live and work abroad. This should be within the EU and beyond, to make it easier for refugees to reach safety and reunite with their families.

  • Demilitarising borders to reduce the risks for refugees travelling across borders to safety.