THE LAST WEEK has seen yet another blow to the Tory government's plans to withdraw social security benefits from asylum seekers. The House of Lords, a knife edge vote of 158 to 150, extended from one to three the number of days for asylum seekers to claim asylum.
According to this ruling, any person applying for asylum during these three days would remain entitled to benefits.
This is contrary to the original proposals, rejected by the appeal court two weeks ago, for any person not claiming asylum at port of entry to be refused benefits.
The Tories have pledged to overturn this change to the Immigration and Asylum bill when it comes back to the House of Commons.
However, the withdrawal of benefits if a claim is made after three days and while waiting for an appeal on an original application, will still have a devastating effect on asy. lum seekers and refugees entering Britain.
The resolve of the Tories to push through these vicious proposals speaks volumes for their overall agenda.
A clear attempt is being made, as on countless other occasions, to link massive expenditure on social security, almost entirely created by Tory policies of high unemployment, with a tiny minority of people - most of whom happen to be black.
While they wait for the return of the feelgood factor, the Tories are happy to trawl for the votes of racists and xenophobes. The effect of the benefit withdrawals is to condemn asylum seekers and Benefit withdrawals will condemn asylum seekers and refugees to a life of homelessness and poverty while they appeal for asylum or refugee status. refugees to a life of homelessness and poverty while they appeal for asylum or refugee status. Some councils, such as Wandsworth and Hillingdon in Greater London, have responded to these earlier changes by enacting sections of the Children's Act which oblige local authorities to care for and house children (under 18s), along with their parents.
However, this provision has not been used by all local authorities and does not help the many asylum seekers who arrive on their own or without children. Other initiatives, under preparation by councils, voluntary and community groups, involve the setting up of special shelters.
One such shelter is currently being planned in West London.
These kinds of concrete initiatives, while absolutely necessary, will not compensate for this overall assault on the lives of innocent people - people who have fled for their lives, or in poverty, and are treated with contempt on arrival in Britain.
The rest of the Asylum and Immigration Bill proposals will increase the number of people immediately sent back when arriving in Britain and will reduce further the right to appeal.
The campaign against these attacks has so far involved two major national demonstrations as well as more localised work to mitigate the effects of the legislation.
There is a real need to step up the campaign in the coming weeks as the Bill comes in for its final reading.
The Campaign against the Immigration and Asylum Bill (CAIAB) have called a lobby of Parliament between 3-5pm on July 15th. This will be followed by a public meeting in the House of Commons at 6pm.