MORE than 200 charities have urged Andy Burnham to “reject the politics of division” and forge a new path for asylum-seekers and refugees in Britain after he becomes Prime Minister today.

In an open letter, they called on Sir Keir Starmer’s successor to “champion a narrative that reflects the very best of our country, because we believe we are stronger together.”

Care4Calais, Choose Love, City of Sanctuary UK, Freedom from Torture, NACCOM, Refugee Action, Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council and Women for Refugee Women are among its 219 signatories. 

The statement, organised by campaign coalition Together With Refugees, says: “As leaders of charities and organisations supporting refugees across the UK, we witness every day the extraordinary compassion shown by ordinary people. 

“While recent scenes of far-right marches, intimidation and attempts to spread fear have dominated headlines, they do not reflect the reality we see in communities across the country.

 “For too long, public debate has been shaped by hostile politics, divisive rhetoric and policies that have dehumanised people seeking asylum. 

“Year after year, we have challenged measures rooted in performative cruelty and listened as refugees have been unfairly blamed for wider social and economic challenges. It is time to draw a clear line under this approach.

“Prime Minister, we ask you to reject the politics of division, and focus on what unites us, to build common ground, and to extend dignity, humanity and hope to those who have already endured so much.”

Refugee Council director of external affairs Imran Hussain described the generosity of communities “refusing to let hate define them” as the “real story of Britain.” 

CEO of Kent Refugee Action Network Dr Razia Shariff urged Mr Burnham to “rise to the challenge” to  set a “new direction on immigration, race and asylum.”

HIAS+JCORE’s Rabbi David Mason said: “We know from our work that communities across the country want to offer humanity and fairness to refugees.”

Refugee Action chief Tim Naor Hilton said: “The country is ready for a different conversation — one that replaces the politics of hate with a vision of unity and hope.”

Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “Andy Burnham must stop the toxic, racist pandering to the far right and address the cost-of-living crisis. We need the government to introduce safe routes for refugees, scrap the proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain, re-establish relations with the Muslim Council of Britain and work with Sikh communities to combat the spate of racist attacks on Sikhs.”
 

Communist Party general secretary Alex Gordon said that “any continuity with Sir Keir Starmer’s discredited authoritarianism and diet of Tory-style cuts to pay for military spending will be fatal for the Labour Party.” 
 

“The clearest way for Burnham to demonstrate he is not Keir Starmer, will be for his administration to fully recognise a Palestinian state, ban arms sales to Israel, end collusion in US war crimes against Iran and Yemen and move immediately to de-proscribe direct action groups such as Palestine Action,” he added.

Meanwhile, a poll of University and College Union (UCU) members released today showed almost twice as many respondents think the Green Party (29 per cent) better reflects their views on education than Labour currently does.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Labour’s current strategy of moving to the right on immigration… failed dramatically in May. 

“Burnham must now take a more progressive stance if he wants to build a coalition of voters that will enable him to win a General Election.”

Mr Burnham is expected to set out measures to provide “breathing space” on the cost of living in his first speech in Downing Street today.

Reports have suggested this could include approval of further oil and gas drilling in the North Sea and Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell told the BBC yesterday that scrapping digital ID will help it bring a “laser focus” to tackling the cost of living.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Every decision and every announcement Andy Burnham has makes needs to show working people he’s on their side.

“That should start with action to bring down energy bills, taxing banks’ enormous profits to pay for it, and delivering Labour’s workers’ rights agenda in full.”

A spokesman for Momentum said: “Under Andy Burnham, Labour must change direction completely: end austerity, cut ties with Israel, restore party democracy and build the bold, democratic alternative the country needs.”

Speaking at the national march for Palestine rally on Saturday, Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsay German slammed Mr Burnham’s claim that Labour “didn’t get it quite right” on Palestine.

“Who is he fooling? We got it completely wrong on Palestine,” she said. 

“We live in a country with extremes of poverty that we haven’t seen in more than a 100 years – that’s what Burnham should be talking about, not supporting wars in the Middle East.”

Palestine Solidarity Campaign deputy director Peter Leary urged Mr Burnham to “break with Starmer’s shameful legacy” and “reverse the spiteful use of pressive public order and anti-terror legislation to target those speaking out for Palestinian rights.”

Disabled People Against Cuts co-founder Linda Burnip called for the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People into domestic law and more protection for recipients of Continuing Health Care funding to remain living in the community.

Homelessness charity Crisis chief Matt Downie said that Mr Burnham’s commitment to adopt a “housing first philosophy” and the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period “could truly be a turning point in tackling homelessness.”

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney called for an “end to the pandering to Nigel Farage, and a clear and immediate change of direction.”