SCOTLAND can rightly be proud of the positive way it has sought to deal with the plight of refugees in recent years.
Only last week, a report by academics at the University of Glasgow found that Syrians resettled in Scotland after fleeing their war-torn country were happier and more generously assisted than those taken to England. Indeed, Scotland has offered a home to more Syrian refugees than any other part of the UK and has made of a point of welcoming vulnerable people from all over the world. In turn, many of those offered refuge in Scotland have made valuable contributions to their new homeland.
With this in mind, news that hundreds of asylum seekers are to be locked out of their homes by the private company that manages accommodation for them is deeply disturbing to say the least.
Serco says its new policy - which was only relayed to local authorities and charities on Friday and will result in the mass eviction of up to 300 people - applies to those who have been told they cannot stay in Britain. The company makes the point that since the Home Office does not pay accommodation costs for those whose applications for asylum have been refused, the UK Government cannot expect a contractor to keep paying the spiralling housing bill at its own expense.
As logical as this argument may seem on the surface, the consequences are simply too grim to contemplate: hundreds of already vulnerable people with no means to support themselves or their families being put out on the street. Since local authorities are legally prevented from providing housing or funds to failed asylum seekers and charities do not have the means to provide them with accommodation, those affected – including children - will face extreme and unimaginable hardship. Ultimately, hard-up councils have little choice but to step in and provide support.
Thus Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken is entirely right to warn Home Secretary Sajid Javid of a “humanitarian disaster” in the city, especially since she and her officials were given only a few days’ notice of the policy. She is also right to demand that Mr Javid instructs Serco to stop the evictions with immediate effect – his department is, after all, responsible for the welfare of asylum seekers.
Many Glaswegians - including SNP and Labour politicians - are already talking about direct action, citing the likes of local heroine Mary Barbour. A protest against the evictions is due to take place later today.
Surely, however, there will be no need for such action if Mr Javid takes the humane and ultimately more sensible approach by calling a halt to the evictions; a more compassionate solution can and must be found.
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