On World Refugee Day, we stand in condemnation of the government’s disturbing Rwanda scheme

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Rather than this outdated and offensive stance, Britain must step up as a leader (AFP/Getty)

Leaders from across the globe are preparing for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that starts in Rwanda today – World Refugee Day. Yet, in a contradiction to the vision of “a Commonwealth that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous and that cherishes equality, diversity and shared values”, the UK government persists with its plan to send asylum seekers and refugees on a one-way flight to the same African state.

This disturbing new scheme sends those seeking safety in the UK to Rwanda in exchange for cash, and targets people simply because of how they arrived here, irrespective of their need for protection. Britain is not only flouting international law, but it is failing to protect its share of people fleeing other countries from around the world.

Rather than this outdated and offensive stance, Britain must step up as a leader, take responsibility and end this shameful scheme. We must instead open safe routes for asylum seekers and refugees to find protection in the UK and build a fair and orderly system.

Amanda Church-Mcfarlane, Co-CEO of Abigail Housing

Waad al-Kateab, Co-founder of Action For Sama

Duncan McAuley, CEO of Action Foundation

Liz Windsor-Welsh, CEO of Action Together CIO

Fahim Zazai, Manager of Afghan Community and Welfare Centre

Chizobam Obumneme Ekenna, General manager of African Community Centre

Aderonke Apata, Founder and CEO of African Rainbow Family

Imogen McIntosh, Director of Aid Box Community

Graeme Hodge, CEO of All We Can

Frances Walker, Head of English at Archway Learning Trust

Salma Zulfiqar, Founder and director of ARTconnects

Ewan James Roberts, Centre manager of Asylum Link Merseyside

Doreen Hengari, Director at Asylum Seekers And Refugee Support Sanctuary

Mark Goldring, Director at Asylum Welcome

Sarah Magill, Director and trustee of Azadi Charity

Revd. Lynn Green, General secretary of Baptist Union of Great Britain

Claire Clift, Chair of trustees of Bath Welcomes Refugees

Fiona Vale, Service manager of Basic Educational Guidance in Nottinghamshire

Evie Booton, Communications and campaigns coordinator of Big Leaf Foundation

Dr David Brown, Chair of Birmingham City of Sanctuary

Nicole Port Louis, Teacher of physics at Bluecoat Academy

Ivana Mancic, EAL academic coach at Bluecoat Aspley Academy

Andrew Wyatt, Lead teacher of mathematics at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy

Ros Holland, CEO of Boaz Trust

Amanda Mortimer, Volunteer at Bradford Immigration & Asylum Support & Advice Network

Matthew Powell, CEO of Breaking Barriers

Beth Wilson, CEO of Bristol Refugee Rights

Yvonne Rendell, Chair of Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees

Mary Stretch, Director of Calais Light

Amber Ray, Communications specialist at Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary

Catharine Walston, Chair of executive at Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group

Catharine Walston, Trustee at Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign

Dr Mohamed Ali, Chair of Canterbury Muslim Cultural Centre

Eleanor Brown, CEO of CARAS

Clare Moseley, Founder of Care4Calais

James Cartwright, Chair of Carlisle Refugee Action Group

Rachel Lesiter, Chorleywood4Refugees

Joanna Schüder, Refugee networking officer at Christian Concern for One World

Most Reverend Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales

Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the general assembly, Church of Scotland

Bishop Mike Royal, General secretary of Churches Together in England

Rachel Hattingh, Members manager of Citizens of the World Choir

Thomas Martin, Director of City of Sanctuary Sheffield

Stella Barnes, Creative director of Community Arts North West

Colette Batten-Turner, Founding executive director of Conversation Over Borders

Almir Koldzic, Director of Counterpoints Arts

Laura Marziale, Founder and director of Creating Ground

Sally Hyman, Founder and trustee of CRIBS International

Patrick Coyle, Chair of the board at Cytûn Churches Together in Wales

Riana Brown, Group communications manager at Daughters of Charity Services

Jonathan Ellis, Project director at Detention Forum

Bishop John Arnold, Diocese of Salford

Jan Foster, Trustee of Doncaster Conversation Club

Jeannie Tweedie, Director of Elmbridge CAN

Stephanie Habib, Project development manager at English for Action London

Awder Ahmed, Share Tawe project officer at Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales

Trish Chipman, Committee member at Farnham Help for Refugees

Dr Valerie Jeffries, Trustee at Faversham and Villages Refugee Solidarity Group

Maire Greaney, Secretary and trustee at Flintshire City of Sanctuary

Amber Bauer, CEO of ForRefugees

Sonya Sceats, CEO of Freedom From Torture

Elizabeth Slade, Chief officer of General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

Naomi Webb, Executive director of Good Chance Theatre

Richard Hargreaves, Editor at Grassington and District Peace Group

Denise McDowell, CEO of Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Caroline Burnett, Founder of Guildford Refugee Aid

Polly Gifford, Co-chair of Hastings Community of Sanctuary

Jane Grimshaw, Convener at Hastings Supports Refugees

Ailsa Dunn, Secretary of Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees

Angus Clark, CEO of Herts for Refugees

Roger Wilson, Trustee of Hope and Aid Direct

Philip Howell, Drop in leader of Hope Cafe Refugee Drop In

Phil Davis, Director of Hope Projects

John Weaving, Member of the human race

Yasmine Ahmed, UK director at Human Rights Watch

Maddie Harris, Director of Humans for Rights Network

Mary Solomon, Chair of Humans of Wolverhampton (HOW)

Nicole Francis, CEO of Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association

Laura Kyrke-Smith, UK executive director of International Rescue Committee

Sophie Cartwright, Senior policy officer at Jesuit Refugee Service UK

Aaron Barbour, CEO of Katherine Low Settlement

Jo Taylor, Chair of Kent Kindness

Brad Collier, Director of Larner Associates

Rose McCarthy, Volunteer at Leeds City of Sanctuary

Jean Gould, Trustee of Lewes Organisation in Support of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Rosario Guimba-Stewart, CEO of Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism

Paul Streets, CEO of Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales

Mariam Yusuf, Management committee member at Manchester Migrant Solidarity

Alexander Leeson Francis-Palmer, General advice coordinator at Manchester Refugee Support Network

Nicola Monk, Trustee of Marlow Refugee Action

Jonathan Wttenberg, Senior Rabbi at Masorti Judaism

maureen sier, Director of Maureen Sier

Nina Houghton, group member of Merseyside Solidarity Knows no Borders

Revd. Ian Rutherford, City centre minister at Methodist Central Hall Manchester

Revd. Sonia Hicks, President of the conference of Methodist Church in Britain

Nazek Ramadan, Executive director of Migrant Voice

Frank Kamau, Manager of Mojatu Foundation

Lis Murphy, Creative director and founder of Music Action International

Zara Mohammed, Secretary-general of Muslim Council of Britain

Bridget Young, Director of The No Accommodation Network

Lord (Indarjit) Singh of Wimbledon, Director Network of Sikh Organisations UK, Network of Sikh Organisations UK

Rachel McPeake, Project administrator at North East Law Centre

Mishka Pillay, One Strong Voice

Marian Pallister, Chair of Pax Christi Scotland

Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK

Natalia Byer, Programme manager at Polish Migrants Organise for Change

Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, Policy and public affairs manager of Praxis

Meirion Morris, General secretary of Presbyterian Church of Wales

Dawn Judd, Chair of Preston City of Sanctuary

Paul Parker, Recording clerk at Quakers in Britain

Elizabeth Allen, Clerk of General Meeting for Scotland, Quakers in Scotland

Jabeer Butt OBE, CEO of Race Equality Foundation

Anna Jones , Co-founder and CEO of RefuAid

Tim Naor Hilton, CEO of Refugee Action

Sarah Fenby-Dixon, Trustee of Refugee Aid Network

Nathan Sperry, Operations manager at Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex & London

Ruhi Akhtar, Chairperson of Refugee Biriyani & Bananas

Rich Snaith, Treasurer of Refugee Compassion

Enver Solomon, CEO of Refugee Council

Efi Stathopoulou, Programmes manager at Refugee Legal Support

Nick Harborne, CEO of Refugee Support Group and Reading City of Sanctuary

Jonny Willis, CEO of Refugee Youth Service

Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive director at René Cassin the Jewish voice for human rights

Jeremy Thompson, Manager at Restore – a project of Birmingham Churches Together

Haytham Alhamwi, Manager at  Rethink Rebuild Society

Eiri Ohtani, Director of Right to Remain

M.H.Khan, Founder and CEO of Rohingya Youths for Society Change-RYSC

Daisy Jacobs, Co-Founder and director of Routes

Beth Gardiner-Smith, CEO of Safe Passage International

Gwen Hines, CEO of Save the Children

Karen Dobson, CEO of Scotswood Garden

Bishop Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Scottish Episcopal Church

Sabir Zazai, CEO of Scottish Refugee Council

Angie Pedley, Treasurer of Settle Area Refugee Support group

Chris Hix, Trustee of Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees

Margaret Roche, Manager at Share Knowsley

Liz Morgan, Trustee/treasurer of Side by Side Refugees

Ruth Cape, Development manager of South East Integration Network

Nikki Walters, Chair of Southampton Action

Mark Courtice, Chair of the Trustees at Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group

Liz Needham, Chair of Trustees at St Albans for Refugees

Abigail Martin, Manager at St Chad’s Sanctuary

Maja Moller, Coordinator of St Thomas Church Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Network Lancaster

Amber Ray, Communications manager of St. Augustine’s Centre Halifax

Bernadette McAliskey, Coordinator at South Tyrone Empowerment Programme

Sandra J Morton, Chair of Swansea Asylum Seekers Support

Kathryn Williams, Secretary of Swansea City of Sanctuary

Nicola Wood, Charity manager of Swindon City of Sanctuary

Revd Louis James Johnson, Assistant curate at Team Parish of St Luke in the City, Diocese of Liverpool

Satinder Collins, Chair of Tees Valley of Sanctuary

Anna Lagoyianni, Volunteer coordinator at The Greenhouse Multicultural Arts and Play Project

Elaine Ortiz, Founder-director of  The Hummingbird Project

Dr Edie Friedman, Executive director of The Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE)

Barbara Easton, Vice-president of The Methodist Church in Britain

Revd S M Slaney, Chair of District at The Methodist Church in Scotland

Bethany, Head of Music at The Nottingham Emmanuel School

Iris Lightfoote, CEO of The Race Equality Centre

Nicolas Hatton, CEO of the3million

Sue Lacey, Founder of Together100

Archie Ford, Moderator of United Free Church of Scotland

Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of General Assembly at the United Reformed Church

Dr Moira Dustin, Lecturer at the University of Sussex

Mel Steel, Director of Voices in Exile

Sonja Miley, Co-executive director of Waging Peace

Florence Andrews, Co-chair of Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees

Emily Shepherd and Sue Butler, Joint CEOs of Welcome Churches

Mr Andrew Harwood, Project manager at Welcome Group Halesowen

Susie Ventris-Field, CEO of Welsh Centre for International Affairs

Andrea Cleaver, CEO of  Welsh Refugee Council

Hannah Barnes, Director of West End Refugee Service

Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director of Women’s Budget Group

Rachel Kelly, CEO of Women’s Health Matters

Paul Anticoni, CEO of World Jewish Relief

Jo Cobley, CEO of Young Roots

Support the rail strikes

Transport minister Grant Shapps has condemned the upcoming strikes by the RMT union on the grounds their actions will “punish millions of innocent people”. Shapps is being territorial. He probably sees punishing “millions of innocent people” as the exclusive job of the Tory government.

Actually, the RMT is doing what job unions were founded to do – protecting the terms and conditions of their members. They are taking industrial action to ensure the wages of their members keep pace with 11 per cent inflation.

All workers should support them and follow their example.

Sasha Simic

London

Vote of no confidence

I refer to Liam James’ informative article in yesterday’s edition. It is reported that the pamphlets distributed by Tory by-election candidates Helen Hurford and Nadeem Ahmed in support of their candidacy omit reference to their prime minister, Boris Johnson.

This might fairly be construed as a clear vote of no confidence by prospective MPs riding into action in two important by-elections on a Tory ticket. They appear not only to have no confidence in Johnson but, by implication at least, very little in the party they purport to represent.

As things stand their successful election seems unlikely. If elected, it would appear that presently disaffected Tory MPs should feel able to rely on their support in any future vote of no confidence in their prime minister.

David Nelmes

Newport

The PM in hiding

Wouldn’t it be just great to know where Boris Johnson plans to hide out on Friday after the almost certainly disastrous by-elections on Thursday?

He certainly cannot go back to Ukraine already; the Queen is hardly likely to let him use Sandringham or Windsor; Dublin and the rest of the EU are not realistic options either!

Rwanda glad-handing anyone?

Robert Boston

Kingshill

Tory incompetence

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed in your letter page yesterday regarding the endless self-serving stunts of the PM and his sycophants.

What worries me more is their incompetence. On Saturday, my seven-year-old grandson became unwell. His mother treated his temperature, but at about 4pm he said his chest hurt and his little heart was racing. She called 999, but was advised to take him to hospital. They were booked in, eventually triaged and sent home after two hours. The consultant did not want to see him. He still had a temperature and said his chest hurt.

Then the hospital rang to say the out-of-hours GP wanted to see him. Another wait for a phone call – the appointment was for 9.15pm.

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Luckily for us, he was declared fine. He is asthmatic so any respiratory illness is a worry. All this could have been resolved at the earlier visit. This story has a happy outcome – not all calls to 999 end this way.

I am 68 – I remember Thatcher’s Britain, raised my daughter on benefits in the Eighties when being a single mother (albeit a professional, divorced woman) was a dirty word. I remember the poverty, the lack of hope, the despair. Now a WASPI pensioner, I feel the same dread as prices rise and frustration mounts. This government has no ideas, no empathy,  and no morals.

Name withheld

Cheltenham