THE Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, has accused the Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, of “deliberately increasing fear of the stranger in our communities”.
Dr Croft published an open letter on his blog to Mr Farage on Thursday; two days earlier, Mr Farage had made a speech at London Oxford Airport, through which he launched the party’s “Operation Restoring Justice” plan. The airport is adjoining to Campsfield House, a former detention centre. The Home Office recently published plans for redeveloping the positioning as an Immigration Removal Centre.
If his party won the subsequent election, it might deport 600,000 migrants in the course of the next five years, Mr Farage said. The “only way” to stop small boats crossing the English Channel, he said, was by “detaining and deporting absolutely anyone who comes via that route”.
In his letter, Dr Croft said that he had been sorry not to fulfill Mr Farage on his recent visit to Oxford. He described Oxford — “one in every of the kindest and most welcoming cities within the country and one in every of the best cultural crossroads on the earth” — as a “strange selection” for Reform UK’s press conference.
“I agree with a few of what you said within the press conference,” Dr Croft wrote. “Immigration questions and border security are vital. The flow of migrants across the Channel in small boats is perilous and heartbreaking to observe. There are real challenges to community cohesion if these issues are usually not addressed.”
But Dr Croft expressed profound disagreements with Mr Farage’s policy.
“I heard no compassion in what you said for many who are in danger from people traffickers; those that fled for his or her lives; those that long for sanctuary and safety; the vulnerable who could be forcibly deported. The British people, as I understand them, want public policies founded on the deeply British and Christian values of compassion and take care of those in need.”
Dr Croft also wrote that Mr Farage had said “nothing in any respect” in regards to the complexity of the issue.
“Migration is a world issue not a neighborhood issue. Migration into Europe affects our neighbours. International co-operation is essential to resolving and improving the situation. International development in rebuilding countries of origin is significant. The biggest driver of world migration now and in the long run is climate change. International agreements on combatting climate change and mitigation are a significant a part of the answer.
“I heard nothing about international collaboration aside from attempting to barter bilateral agreements to return those that enter the country illegally.”
Mr Farage had published “broad brush intentions with insufficient attention to detail”, Dr Croft wrote. “As you might be well aware, there have been quite a few attempts to deal with the query of migration but all have faltered for lack of compassion, attention to complexity, collaboration or attention to granular of law and resources. I cannot see that the proposals you outlined yesterday will likely be any different. You are raising hopes for some without the technique of delivery.”
To achieve his goals, Mr Farage would should “dismantle key legal frameworks”, Dr Croft said, comparable to the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Treaty against torture, and the Refugee Convention.
Dr Croft said that he disagreed most profoundly with what he called Mr Farage’s “attempts to politicise the questions of migration and asylum by deliberately increasing fear of the stranger in our communities”.
He wrote: “Community cohesion and mutual respect are vital assets in any area people. There are many, many forces which seek to separate good neighbours and sow distrust. We have seen a rise in hate crime in recent months, even on this kindest and most international of cities. To see any politician with a public platform looking for to play on these fears and stoke division for political advantage is deeply disturbing.”
He appealed to each political party “to depoliticise this most toxic of issues and seek cross party agreement on solutions wherever possible”.
