The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has called on the British government to adopt a more compassionate stance towards illegal migrants in the face of growing calls for mass deportations.
Cottrell criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s proposal to deport 600,000 asylum seekers within five years, branding it “neither sensible nor compassionate.” Farage had pledged that, if elected prime minister, his government would detain and remove all migrants arriving by small boats or other illegal routes, including women and children.
He also vowed to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and scrap the Human Rights Act.
Speaking to The Mirror, Cottrell stressed that Britain “cannot simply close the door” to people fleeing persecution and conflict. He argued that the nation should continue its tradition of offering refuge, describing compassion and understanding as both “the Christian way” and the long-standing British approach.
The intervention comes amid rising protests outside asylum seeker hotels, with Labour also under pressure over the growing number of Channel crossings and taxpayer-funded migrant accommodations.
While acknowledging frustrations from communities near migrant housing, the Archbishop emphasised the importance of creating a “fair and functional system” that balances local concerns with humane treatment for those seeking safety.
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