Agenda item

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·       everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·       the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·       people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·       the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

       i.          defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

      ii.          call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

    iii.          request Cabinet to

·                 work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                 continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seeking safety;

·                 work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                 consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution and become a recognised Council of Sanctuary

Councillor Andrew Gant moved and Councillor Michael O’Connor seconded the following motion:

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·         everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·         the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·         people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·         the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

      i.        defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

    ii.        call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

   iii.        request Cabinet to

·                     work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                     continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seeking safety;

·                     work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                     consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution and become a recognised Council of Sanctuary

Following debate, the motion was carried with 42 in favour; 15 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED:

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·         everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·         the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·         people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·         the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

      i.        defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

    ii.        call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

   iii.        request Cabinet to

·                     work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                     continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seeking safety;

·                     work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                     consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution and become a recognised Council of Sanctuary