CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHANGE TO RULES ON SUBMITTING NEW EVIDENCE IN ASYLUM CASES

Now is the time for MPs to show they care about access to justice.

On hearing about the plight of asylum seekers who are needing to appeal against an initial decision to refuse them refugee status, and have collected further evidence to support their claim, Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert had tabled this Early Day Motion in Parliament.

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/714

Please ask your MP to sign this motion. You can easily contact your MP via this link, https://www.writetothem.com/

MPs from different political parties have already signed. Some MPs cannot sign because they hold a position in Government, or do not sign any EDMs. You can ask them to make representations to the Home Secretary.

A new Home Office ruling (more information here) says that asylum seekers, from wherever they are in the UK, have to take new evidence in person to Liverpool with 10 days notice. At the moment they can take this evidence to a regional centre which is much more easily accessible. Asylum seekers have just 70% of income support to live on, but many who have had an initial refusal are on what is called Section 4 and have an Azure Card to spend at named supermarkets – not bus or rail fares. There are also those who have no support whatsoever, and like nearly all those seeking asylum, are not allowed to work.

It is important for all who believe in access to justice, that the Home Office abandon this rule change, and ensure that people seeking protection in the UK are able to present evidence relating to their case.