Students grill local MP on refugee scheme
Following a letter from Heathfield students, MP Huw Merriman came to Heathfield to discuss the Ukrainian resettlement scheme and other topical issues. Bethany Cassé reports
In response to a letter addressing the government’s approach to the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, Huw Merriman, MP for Battle and Bexhill, visited Heathfield Community College on 13 May. Students' specific concern was the complex and lengthy process for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the UK and the economic strains caused as a result of the sanctions placed on Russia. The letter received over 200 signatures from Heathfield students across all year groups. During the meeting, students taking A-Level Politics and members of the Executive Student Council were able to ask any questions they had and debate the subject.
As of 11 May there had been 132,900 applications from Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the UK and, at the time of writing, this number has increased by over 30,000. Of these applications, 102,300 had been granted asylum in the UK. Although on paper this seems like a high number, in comparison with other European countries (such as Poland, Moldova and Romania) it is considerably lower. It could be argued that this is simply due to the geography of these countries and their close proximity to Ukraine however an internet search quickly reveals a lack of clear information about the process of application for refugees and also for families who wish to host refugees. Which raises the question: is the process of seeking asylum being made deliberately complicated?
To enter the UK, refugees have to fill out a complicated and lengthy visa application in English, posing a significant language barrier. Students pressed Mr Merriman on the matter, challenging the necessity of making these refugees, who have already undergone a large amount of trauma, go through such a complicated process. Should the UK have followed pursuit with other European countries and adopted an open border policy instead?
To this Mr Merriman argued that the visa measures were first and foremost designed to protect people. The rigorous checking of hosts and sponsors is to confirm their legitimacy, ensure safe homes for the arriving Ukrainians and to avoid potential criminals and human traffickers from taking advantage of the situation. Further to this, having all of the refugees well-documented enables them to better access the benefits that are being offered. Currently, all those who have been granted asylum in the UK are part of a three year scheme granting them all of the same rights as UK citizens including access to work, benefits, education and healthcare. Refugees get sponsors that can help them translate the documents if needed: the documents themselves can’t be in Ukrainian but they are given access to an interpreter if needed.
There are plenty of occasions where communities in the UK have shown a great deal of support and sympathy to the Ukrainian population from aid support and fundraising to the people opening up their homes to host families. In fact, earlier in 2022, Boris Johnson claimed that the UK is “a beacon of openness and generosity” for asylum seekers however there is plenty of evidence that points to the contrary. Such as the government's absurd new scheme that plans to relocate refugees to Rwanda, a country with a dubious human rights record. There is a lack of infrastructure for this proposed scheme and refugees are sent to ‘processing centres’ that are essentially places of detention - suggesting that the UK is anything but ‘generous’ and ‘supportive’ of asylum seekers.
One student posed the question of whether there is a government bias towards Ukrainian refugees. They pointed out that, in recent years, no similar support has been provided for other asylum seekers such as Syrian refugees. Which brings about a darker question: does the UK’s acceptance of Ukrainian refugees have political motivations rather than humanitarian concerns? To this Merriman had no clear cut answer, arguing that the situation in Syria was different to the current one in Ukraine. He also pointed out that the issue of immigration is a complex one with many different sides, and people's attitudes had changed since the Syrian crisis.
From there, the conversation shifted to discussion of the European response to the war. In particular, the debate of whether we should allow the new countries who are petitioning to become a part of NATO to join. When asked, Merriman explains that being a member of NATO means being willing to take direct action if any member countries are invaded, therefore, the admission of new countries to the organisation rests on whether they would genuinely be willing to engage in combat. Following this, one student asked the crucial question: should Ukraine be permitted to join NATO? Merriman responded that the issue with Ukraine joining NATO is that this would mean the UK would then be in direct combat with Russia. Merriman stated that he strongly believes that in a war between Russia and NATO, the latter would win, however, it is worth bearing in mind that Russia has nuclear capability and that the humanitarian and economic cost of direct military action would be significant. Instead, he advises an economic war involving the sanctions already in place against Russia.
By the end of the meeting, every student had had the chance to challenge and ask questions to Mr Merriman with subjects ranging from the rising cost of living, increase in the use of food banks and the potentially damaging nature of the new laws surrounding the compulsory display of calories on menus. However, with recent dramatic political developments such as Boris Johnson’s resignation as PM, there is still much to be discussed and debated.
Bethany Cassé, Year 12
In response to a letter addressing the government’s approach to the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, Huw Merriman, MP for Battle and Bexhill, visited Heathfield Community College on 13 May. Students' specific concern was the complex and lengthy process for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the UK and the economic strains caused as a result of the sanctions placed on Russia. The letter received over 200 signatures from Heathfield students across all year groups. During the meeting, students taking A-Level Politics and members of the Executive Student Council were able to ask any questions they had and debate the subject.
As of 11 May there had been 132,900 applications from Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the UK and, at the time of writing, this number has increased by over 30,000. Of these applications, 102,300 had been granted asylum in the UK. Although on paper this seems like a high number, in comparison with other European countries (such as Poland, Moldova and Romania) it is considerably lower. It could be argued that this is simply due to the geography of these countries and their close proximity to Ukraine however an internet search quickly reveals a lack of clear information about the process of application for refugees and also for families who wish to host refugees. Which raises the question: is the process of seeking asylum being made deliberately complicated?
To enter the UK, refugees have to fill out a complicated and lengthy visa application in English, posing a significant language barrier. Students pressed Mr Merriman on the matter, challenging the necessity of making these refugees, who have already undergone a large amount of trauma, go through such a complicated process. Should the UK have followed pursuit with other European countries and adopted an open border policy instead?
To this Mr Merriman argued that the visa measures were first and foremost designed to protect people. The rigorous checking of hosts and sponsors is to confirm their legitimacy, ensure safe homes for the arriving Ukrainians and to avoid potential criminals and human traffickers from taking advantage of the situation. Further to this, having all of the refugees well-documented enables them to better access the benefits that are being offered. Currently, all those who have been granted asylum in the UK are part of a three year scheme granting them all of the same rights as UK citizens including access to work, benefits, education and healthcare. Refugees get sponsors that can help them translate the documents if needed: the documents themselves can’t be in Ukrainian but they are given access to an interpreter if needed.
There are plenty of occasions where communities in the UK have shown a great deal of support and sympathy to the Ukrainian population from aid support and fundraising to the people opening up their homes to host families. In fact, earlier in 2022, Boris Johnson claimed that the UK is “a beacon of openness and generosity” for asylum seekers however there is plenty of evidence that points to the contrary. Such as the government's absurd new scheme that plans to relocate refugees to Rwanda, a country with a dubious human rights record. There is a lack of infrastructure for this proposed scheme and refugees are sent to ‘processing centres’ that are essentially places of detention - suggesting that the UK is anything but ‘generous’ and ‘supportive’ of asylum seekers.
One student posed the question of whether there is a government bias towards Ukrainian refugees. They pointed out that, in recent years, no similar support has been provided for other asylum seekers such as Syrian refugees. Which brings about a darker question: does the UK’s acceptance of Ukrainian refugees have political motivations rather than humanitarian concerns? To this Merriman had no clear cut answer, arguing that the situation in Syria was different to the current one in Ukraine. He also pointed out that the issue of immigration is a complex one with many different sides, and people's attitudes had changed since the Syrian crisis.
From there, the conversation shifted to discussion of the European response to the war. In particular, the debate of whether we should allow the new countries who are petitioning to become a part of NATO to join. When asked, Merriman explains that being a member of NATO means being willing to take direct action if any member countries are invaded, therefore, the admission of new countries to the organisation rests on whether they would genuinely be willing to engage in combat. Following this, one student asked the crucial question: should Ukraine be permitted to join NATO? Merriman responded that the issue with Ukraine joining NATO is that this would mean the UK would then be in direct combat with Russia. Merriman stated that he strongly believes that in a war between Russia and NATO, the latter would win, however, it is worth bearing in mind that Russia has nuclear capability and that the humanitarian and economic cost of direct military action would be significant. Instead, he advises an economic war involving the sanctions already in place against Russia.
By the end of the meeting, every student had had the chance to challenge and ask questions to Mr Merriman with subjects ranging from the rising cost of living, increase in the use of food banks and the potentially damaging nature of the new laws surrounding the compulsory display of calories on menus. However, with recent dramatic political developments such as Boris Johnson’s resignation as PM, there is still much to be discussed and debated.
Bethany Cassé, Year 12