Refugee groups urge Starmer to dial down anti-migrant rhetoric

Refugee and human rights groups have called on Keir Starmer to avoid language that demonises migrants.

- Diane Taylor

The criticisms are contained in a letter coordinated by Together With Refugees, a campaign coalition of more than 600 organisations.

It was sent in response to comments the prime minister made before the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London on 31 March. He had said: "We all pay the price for insecure borders - from the cost of accommodating migrants to the strain on our public services. It is a basic question of fairness."

The open letter to Starmer says: "Now is not the time to play into the hands of those seeking to build them-and-us division between local communities and refugees. It is the time to move away from the hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past and unite our communities for a different way forward."