For a better politics on refugees, look to the Mayors

Whoever steps into Downing Street after 4 July will face a multitude of problems to fix, but few areas are as broken and costly as our refugee and asylum system. In recent years the UK has spent billions of pounds on hotels and Rwanda and seen an ever-growing backlog of asylum claims, all whilst the number of people arriving on small boats has remained stubbornly high.

For those of us hoping for transformational change of this system, the Labour Party Manifesto might look like a missed opportunity. Refugee and asylum issues get barely a mention, and what reference they do get is mostly in relation to smashing criminal gangs and returning people with unsuccessful claims. But if anyone is tempted to read this and despair, we believe hope can be found in the much bolder promises on devolution, and the potential role of Mayors in reshaping our refugee system. 

On this topic of devolution, the Labour Manifesto is much bolder, promising to ‘transfer power out of Westminster and into our communities’ through ‘landmark devolution legislation to take back control’. Whilst the main elements of this in the manifesto relate to economic growth, housing, transport etc, we believe that this commitment to devolution can also create an opportunity on areas such as reform of the refugee and asylum system. 

National government and Mayors inevitably see migration and refugees differently.

National governments are defined in their very existence by borders, and therefore by preventing or controlling human movement. Whereas cities in their essence are about the intersection of different kinds of flows - of goods, money, and people. Where these crossover, that’s where cities are born and grow. 

So it’s no surprise that Mayors take a very different approach to those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Rather than focusing purely on projects to deter new arrivals, Mayors are busy finding creative ways to include and involve everyone living under their jurisdiction.

At Good Faith we have worked with the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees to pioneer a network of 17 Welcome Hubs across the city, powered by an army of several hundred volunteers running regular activities for our new population of Ukrainian refugees as well as for the nearly 1,000 asylum seekers stuck in limbo in hotels. 

In London Sadiq Khan has developed a holistic social integration strategy backed up by ground-breaking initiatives on English language learning and increasing access to legal advice for those with insecure immigration status. And in Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has spoken out powerfully on the iniquities of the asylum housing system and the problems of refugee homelessness. 

The problem Mayors face is that the UK is still one of the worst countries in the developed world in terms of the centralisation of power in Westminster, and on issues like the asylum and refugee system Mayors are totally cut out of the policy discussion. This needs to change. Mayors working on their own can get great things done in their places, but Mayors working together can change whole systems. That is why it has been so encouraging to see proposals such as those put forward by the landmark Commission on Refugee Integration to establish Local Integration Partnerships which can bring together local and regional stakeholders, enabling national Government to devolve the power and resource needed to create a better system for everyone. 

Whether through pioneering new forms of community-led refugee resettlement or taking back control of asylum housing from profiteering corporates, a locally-led policy approach could also reset the public conversation, helping heal the divisions which have been stoked by a toxic national politics for far too long.  

So, for those hoping for a better politics on refugees, the Party manifestos will likely feel like a battle lost. But if we look to devolution and the potential for Mayors to lead the way on this issue, then we still have cause for hope that the UK could begin to regain its once proud identity as a country of sanctuary. 

To find out more about the Welcoming Mayors Project and to get involved please contact David Barclay at David.barclay@goodfaith.org.uk