Reform seeks to scrap symbolic sanctuary scheme
EPAA local authority's new administration is seeking to pull out of a symbolic sanctuary network scheme.
Reform UK, which took over Sunderland City Council in May, said its first motion would be to suspend the council's involvement in the nationwide City of Sanctuary scheme.
The programme involves sharing best practice on how to make the UK more welcoming for groups such as asylum seekers.
The Reverend Chris Howson, who chairs the local group Sunderland City of Sanctuary, said the move was "performative gesture politics". Reform has been approached for comment.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Reform said suspending the council's involvement in the scheme would be its first motion at its first full council meeting on 24 June.
It said the council's involvement had been voted on by the previous administration "without consulting Wearside residents" and the party would instead put "local residents, local services and local concerns first".
SuppliedBut Howson said there was no real scheme to withdraw from as the previous administration had only committed to pursuing the City of Sanctuary status.
He said to be awarded the symbolic status from the charity, a council had to make firm commitments about how it would it support asylum seekers in the area as well as agree to work with local organisations on the issue.
"It has to do a lot of applications, a lot of work," said Howson. "This council has never been a City of Sanctuary."
He said the status did not affect the number of asylum seekers housed in an area as that was controlled centrally by the Home Office.
He said Reform's move would have little impact on Sunderland's population and would not change the feelings of many local people.
"There are loads of groups in the city and hundreds of individuals who do actively care and support sanctuary seekers," said Howson.
