Church leaders welcome government commitment to review hostile environment policies
Responding to the announcement that the government has committed to implementing all the recommendations of the independent report into the Windrush scandal, senior leaders of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches and Church of Scotland issued the following statement:
“We welcome the Home Secretary’s decision to implement in full the 30 recommendations of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. Significant changes are needed to tackle the toxic combination of immigration policies, Home Office culture, and individual and institutional failings which made the Windrush scandal almost inevitable.
Two years ago, our four Churches launched a major report and campaign highlighting the damaging effects of the ‘hostile environment’ and calling for its end. We therefore look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the systematic evaluation of hostile environment policies recommended by the report.
There are many in our congregations who have suffered personal hurt and pain as a result of these failings, and who can attest to the continuing impact of these measures in causing deprivation, discrimination and distrust across society. It should be a basic expectation that the government treats everyone with respect, fairness and humanity. We are glad these concerns have been recognised, and hope this will be the beginning of a process of righting some of these injustices.”
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Mr Derek Estill & Revd Nigel Uden, Moderators of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
Mr Doug Swanney, Connexional Secretary of the Methodist Church
The Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, Convener of Faith Impact Forum, The Church of Scotland
