Work with government and politicians - Refugee Council

Work with government and politicians

The government’s approach to refugee and asylum policy – both in terms of laws they pass, and how they talk and think about the issues – has a profound effect on the people Refugee Council supports.

For too long, the political debate around refugees and the asylum system has been skewed, misleading, and negative.

It has fuelled a culture of exclusion and blame towards refugees and people seeking asylum. This has led to changes in policy and law that mean already vulnerable and traumatised people struggle to get by in Britain.

But much of the British public and politicians want to see a humane system that protects the welfare of everyone, regardless of their immigration status.


How we’re working for a fairer system

To change this, Refugee Council is at the centre of the political debate around refugee and asylum issues.

We work closely with politicians across parliament, as well as elected officials in regional and local government, to create a system that properly supports the needs of all refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

We are a leading source of information for these officials about the UK asylum system and the issues affecting refugees in the UK, across the range of policy areas and government departments.

This includes providing the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees. Co-chaired by Anne McLaughlin, the MP for Glasgow North East, and Lord Alf Dubs, the group provides a network for interested MPs to find out more about the issues affecting refugees and to take action to achieve positive change.

For more information, you can contact our Parliamentary Manager at the details below.


The APPG on Refugees

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees brings together Parliamentarians from all political parties with an interest in refugees. The group's mission is to provide a forum for the discussion of issues relating to refugees, both in the UK and abroad, and to promote the welfare of refugees and people seeking asylum. The APPG holds regular meetings in Parliament on a range of key issues and provides parliamentarians with the latest research and developments within the UK and global asylum and refugee policy.

The current officers of the APPG are:

  • Anne McLaughlin MP – co-chair
  • Lord Alf Dubs– co-chair
  • David Simmonds MP - vice-chair
  • Tim Loughton MP – vice-chair
  • Caroline Lucas MP – vice-chair
  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett - vice-chair
  • The Lord Bishop of Durham - vice-chair
  • Paul Blomfield MP - vice-chair
  • Carol Monaghan MP - vice-chair
  • Peter Bottomley MP - vice-chair

Find out about the work of the APPG via Twitter @APPGRefugees.

Contact details

Parliamentary Team

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