Our MP’s recent statements in Parliament and the local press regarding the closing of the one hotel housing asylum seekers in the Stroud district show her ignorance about the hotel residents and the attitude towards asylum seekers of many of her constituents.

Why quote a very small but vociferous minority, rather than find out for herself the extent of active local community support for the hotel residents? The list is endless: running English classes, football matches, linking residents with voluntary projects, finding much-needed phones and clothing and arranging transport to medical appointments. One volunteer described how, when accompanying people from the hotel, the public had “gone out of their way to show that they are 100% supportive of the hotel residents being here in the community. People seem to smile more at me when we are out together”.

Why does our MP, despite this being raised with her on several occasions, continue to use inflammatory and factually incorrect phrases like “illegal migrants” which cast asylum seekers in a negative light? If she had ever visited the hotel she would have gained a much more positive picture of the residents (of whom at least 70% are likely to qualify for refugee status according to Home Office statistics). All are courteous, grateful for the support of volunteers and desperate to play their part as productive citizens, despite facing severe trauma due to the situations they have fled from. Is she aware of the hotel residents who attend college classes; volunteer at the church, a local horticultural project and charity shops; and play in friendly football matches with local teams?

If our MP’s calls to accommodate residents more appropriately were based on true concern for their welfare, we would agree. Hotels located far from town centres, with no cooking facilities and food often of poor quality, are not appropriate. However it is even less appropriate to remove people who, in spite of the uncertainty and length of time taken to have their claims heard, have managed to make some sort of new life. The suggestion seems to be that asylum seekers will be housed on barges such as the Bibby Stockholm or ex-army bases. Here it will be difficult to interact with local communities and people will effectively be in detention.

We call on our MP to use her influence with the Home Secretary and the Minister for Immigration to find for these residents alternative accommodation in the Stroud district, which respects their welfare and dignity.

Jean Lawton

Together with Refugees, Stroud District

Woodchester