The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing from persecution and tyranny - to Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in 17th century France, Jews fleeing the Nazi regime in the 1930s, and Zimbabweans seeking a safe haven today. Providing sanctuary is part of what makes Britain great.

The rise of extremist politics, media scare stories, and high profile failings by the Home Office have led to this issue becoming a political football. As a result, our tradition of sanctuary is under threat.

Yet over two-thirds of the public still think it is important that the UK provides sanctuary to people fleeing persecution. We agree. Sanctuary should not just be part of the UK’s history. It should be part of our future too.

That is why we are supporting the Sanctuary Pledge campaign (www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk) and are calling on our local prospective parliamentary candidates to do the same. Those candidates who signed the Sanctuary Pledge agree that we should provide sanctuary to those who are fleeing persecution and should treat refugees with respect and dignity.

The five-point Sanctuary Pledge commits candidates to campaigning positively and responsibly about people seeking sanctuary in the area, using sensitive language when communicating with the public, promoting neighbourliness between local communities, and safeguarding the long-term future of Britain as a place of sanctuary. It also calls for an end to the detention of children and families for immigration purposes. Every year, 1,000 innocent children are locked up in our name. This policy is ineffective, inhumane and expensive – and it is time for our politicians to put a stop to it.

We requested meetings with our parliamentary candidates in two constituencies, to ask them to personally sign up to the Pledge, and to find out their positions on other issues of concern to us.

So far, the following candidates for Edinburgh South West have signed up to the Sanctuary Pledge:

Colin Fox, Scottish Socialist Party
Kaukab Stewart, Scottish National Party
Tim McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats Party
Clare Cooney of the Scottish Green Party declined to meet with us but promised to sign the Pledge online.

Alistair Darling's election agent eventually e-mailed us links to the Scottish Labour manifesto (section 10) and the Scottish Labour Party manifesto ('Britain in the world'), wherein, according to him, “there is a strong commitment to progressive global change". This does not, of course, commit Alastair Darling to the pledge.

The candidates who have signed the pledge in Edinburgh South are:

Fred Mackintosh, Scottish Liberal Democrats Party
Ian Murray, Scottish Labour Party
Sandy Howat, Scottish National Party
Steve Burgess, Scottish Green Party, has promised to sign.

The Conservative candidate, Neil Hudson did not sign, but he said he was personally against the detention of children and families.

Cindy Courtillier from CITIZENS for Sanctuary, said: “I felt moved to pursue this campaign because I think it is vital that we hold politicians to account on something that I care about so strongly. It’s a scandal that 1000 children are detained every year for the administrative convenience of the Home Office. This is why we, as citizens, are doing something about it.”

Sylvia Massey from the Quakers said, “We are worried about the closed system of detention and lack of access. This does not seem compatible with the idea of sanctuary.”

Our CITIZENS for Sanctuary delegation is looking forward to meeting the winning candidates after the election and holding them to account.

Notes:

1. The Sanctuary Pledge is an initiative of Citizens for Sanctuary www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk who are implementing the recommendation of the Independent Asylum Commission
www.independentasylumcommission.org.uk

The Sanctuary Pledge is a UK wide project aimed at ensuring that those elected to the next parliament treat those seeking sanctuary in the UK in fair and humane ways.

2. Copy of the Sanctuary Pledge – also available at: www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk

I, the undersigned Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for [constituency], hereby pledge my support for The Sanctuary Pledge.

I agree that the UK’s tradition of sanctuary is precious. I subscribe to the key values which the Independent Asylum Commission identified that the majority of British people want to underpin the treatment of people fleeing persecution. I believe that:

1. People fleeing persecution should be able to find sanctuary in safe countries like the UK.
2. The UK should have an effective system for controlling our borders that lets those seeking sanctuary in, as well as keeping irregular migrants out.
3. The UK should have a fair and effective decision-making body that takes pride in giving sanctuary to those who need it and denies it to those who do not.
4. People seeking sanctuary should be treated fairly and humanely, have access to essential support and public services, and should make a contribution to the UK if they are able.
5. Once a decision has been made, the UK should act swiftly, effectively and in a controlled way – either to assist integration or to effect a swift, safe and sustainable return for those who have had a fair hearing and have been refused sanctuary.

Furthermore, I make the following commitments regarding my role as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate and potential future Member of Parliament. I will:

1. Campaign responsibly, positively and sensitively
Make clear the difference between sanctuary and economic migration, and not seek to gain electoral advantage by pandering to fears about people seeking sanctuary.

2. Promote a culture of sanctuary locally and nationally
It is vital to communicate effectively with the public on this sensitive issue, and research shows that using terms such as ‘sanctuary’ and ‘people seeking sanctuary’ can aid public understanding of why it is important to offer a safe haven to people fleeing persecution.

3. Support policies that will end the detention of children and families for immigration reasons

4. Promote understanding and neighbourliness between local communities
Work with local authorities, voluntary, faith and CITIZEN groups to form sanctuary welcoming groups to bridge the divide between those seeking sanctuary and the local population and encourage positive encounters between refugee communities and local people.

5. Safeguard the long-term future of sanctuary
If elected, work with voluntary, faith and CITIZEN groups in the constituency to promote awareness of the UK’s past and present role in providing a safe haven for people seeking sanctuary