Myths and Realities - Asylum in the UK

Welcome To Britain The right to seek and enjoy refuge from persecution or war is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a basic principle of international law. It is an ancient and widely respected practice of civilised states, and an international obligation. As a party to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention the UK is obliged to observe this right.

The new system for dealing with applications, while it may be faster, is unlikely to be fairer, not least because applications from some countries, deemed to be safe, will automatically be refused. Other provisions of the act will further marginalise and isolate already vulnerable people.

Refugees don't just face government policy deterrents to seeking asylum in the UK. Hysterical and ill-informed media coverage of the threat of asylum seekers is all to often used to turn public opinion against them. These prejudices have frequently been echoed in the statements of some politicians.

Media coverage of asylum seekers in the UK paints a picture of 'scroungers' coming to the UK to live on benefits and beg in the streets. The reality is people forced to leave their homes and families in fear for their lives, travelling to the UK in search of safety and dignity.

What they all too often find on arrival is punishment for their misfortune, through government policy and media prejudice. Work by groups such as Oxfam in countries blighted by conflict and brutal regimes makes it clear to us that much media coverage on asylum issues is ill informed. Here we challenge the most common myths.

War Torn Afganistan

Asylum Seeker's Food Voucher A clear demonstration of harsh treatment of asylum seekers under the 1999 act is the replacement of cash support with vouchers. This discriminatory scheme means new asylum seekers receive vouchers instead of income support. These vouchers, for use in shops selling essential goods, are worth less than 80% of current income support levels (a single asylum seeker over 25 will receive £36.54 per week, £10 of which will be redeemable for cash).
The replacement of cash benefits with the voucher scheme means that asylum seekers will exist on less than 80% of basic income support levels (i.e. a significantly lower level than that for UK citizens). Asylum seekers are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable groups in the UK, and will be further stigmatised and demeaned by having to use vouchers.

Under the new arrangements, the amounts of voucher support (£10 of which will be redeemable for cash per person per week) will be:-

Person aged 18-24 £28.95
Person aged over 25 £36.54
Couple £57.37
Lone parent £36.54
Child under 16 £26.60
Child 16 or 17 £31.75

Take Action

If you are concerned about the portrayal of asylum seekers in your local media you can do something about it. Write or email the editor of the paper, or phone in to radio programs. Use the information here to challenge the views presented, and encourage editors and proprietors to take a more balanced, compassionate view of asylum issues. (If the paper or broadcaster won't allow you to put forward your argument, try approaching other outlets).

The £10 in cash will have to meet all incidental expenses (e.g. transport costs, telephone calls to lawyers). The vouchers will be usable at designated shops, however no change can be given for the portion of vouchers that are unused and vouchers will have to be spent within four weeks. The Government has admitted that administering vouchers is more expensive than giving cash.