News / Bristol
Interview: Thangam Debbonaire
“The system is not set up for full integration. Refugees who manage to integrate here do so despite the system,” says Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire.
Proud to have represented a constituency that values openness and equality since she was elected MP for Bristol West in 2015, Debbonaire is continuing her work to highlight the obstacles faced by people who come to the UK to seek asylum.
She launched a report that was published in April and shined a light on the way refugees and asylum seekers are treated and criticised the costly ‘two-tiered system’ currently operating that leaves people at a very real risk of destitution.
is needed now More than ever
“Some asylum seekers described it as a heartbreaking moment when they are granted asylum status because they are immediately given notice to quit their accommodation and they realise it is actually about to get worse,” says Debbonaire.
“There is currently an uninformed assumption that refugees come here and take jobs and housing, when actually the opposite is the case. You are not entitled to social or council housing and you are not allowed to work.
“Before a decision is made, you get accommodation and a very small amount of money to support you and your family. Following a decision, there is a critical 28 day period where you will lose all your rights. All the things that keep you alive go. You can neither claim benefits, nor work without a national insurance number and residents’ permit.
“If the cards do not arrive, they are at very high risk of destitution within the 28 days.
“I have spoken to refugees who were well qualified in their home countries and expected to be able to work, but found their qualifications were not recognised here, or employers were not looking at them as sympathetically as they should.
“These were people with enormous potential and resources and skills so some of them say they felt quite sad, saying they do not want to be a drain. They are grateful to our country and they want to be able to contribute, but the system makes it really difficult.
“There is a default setting of disbelief among immigration officials. It’s all deeply unsettling and it’s not helping integration. It also costs a lot to go through this process.”
Debbonaire believes there needs to be a review of the whole system, a cross departmental refugee strategy implemented, with a minister for refugees and an integration strategy.
She stressed the two-tiered system needs to be levelled up rather than down.
“What I have tried to do as MP for Bristol west is reflect the values of people here,” adds Debbonaire. “I have also prioritised things like tackling climate change and exploring how renewables can be brought from the experimental stage to the commercially viable stage. This needs to happen very quickly, we have a huge amount of wave and tidal energy and we should be using it.”
Having fulfilled two campaign pledges, to make sex and relationship education compulsory and making a positive start on tackling air pollution, she continues to work on helping Bristol become an autistic friendly city and increasing awareness of autism.
Thangam Debbonaire was elected MP for Bristol West in the 2015 General Election and is standing again on June 8.
As soon as polls close on June 8, Bristol24/7 will be bringing you all the latest General Election news, views and results as it happens throughout the night.
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