What the political parties think about the Sanctuary Pledge

On 25th March 2010, leaders of the Sanctuary Pledge campaign wrote to all of the mainstream political parties who are likely to win seats at the 2010 election, asking for their response to the Sanctuary Pledge. You can download their full responses here. Below are some tasters.

 Chris Grayling, Shadow Home Secretary:

“It is extremely upsetting for children to be detained… The Government has been somewhat half-hearted about looking at alternatives to the detention of children, but this is something my Party would like to return to.”

Phil Woolas, Immigration Minister:

“We have always said that we prefer not to detain families with children and would rather they left the UK voluntarily… I am more than happy to meet with you after the election to discuss this issue.”

Chris Huhne, Shadow Home Secretary:

“We will end the detention of children in immigration detention centres.”

Pete Wishart, Home Affairs Spokesperson:

"Our MPs will continue to ...stand up for what is right, arguing for example for the Home Office to end the practice of holding the children of asylum seekers in detention centres."

Elfyn Llwyd, Leader in Westminster:

"We condemn the practice of housing recently-arrived asylum seekers, especially children, in "detention" or "removal" centres."

Lord Pearson, Leader:

No response.

Caroline Lucas, Leader:

"Those seeking sanctuary should not be detained, and in particular the administrative detention of children is unacceptable and should cease immediately."