Howard wrong on asylum

10.00.00am GMT Tue 25th Jan 2005

Howard wrong on asylum

Michael Howard has decided to make immigration his election He is proposing limits on asylum and quotas for those seeking work permits through a points system. His proposals would mean the UK`s withdrawal from the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees, which obliges countries to accept people being persecuted on the basis of need rather than numbers. The Chief Executive of the Refugee Council Maeve Sherlock called the plans "dangerous, ill thought-out and hugely irresponsible".

Now there may be a discussion to have about the UK's immigration policy, I for one was astounded to find out we currently do not have 24hour coverage at points of entry into the UK, but for me asylum for refugees is not up for discussion. We cannot set limits on how many we will help when they have been driven from their homes by wars and the such like, the world just does not work like that - wars don't displace a quota so we can not just accept a quota.