GREEN councillors in Oxford are calling to provide asylum-seekers with free city bus travel.

Councillors Alex Powell and Dianne Regisford will put forward a motion at Oxford City Council on Monday.

They argue inadequate support makes travel challenging for asylum-seekers and the financial burden makes it more difficult to access and engage with available sources of support, as well as increasing isolation for those in hotel accommodation.

A group of asylum-seekers recently made representations  to the council regarding the need for free bus passes.

Mr Powell said: “For many years, the UK government has actively sought to make our country more and more hostile to migrants and asylum-seekers.

“The asylum system as a whole needs a total overhaul, so that it is built around the principles of fairness, solidarity and humanitarianism.

“Until there is the political will to do that nationally, local councils should be exploring every avenue to make their areas more welcoming, which is exactly what this motion seeks to do.”