Sir Bill attacks asylum 'blackmail'

Protesters want Campsfield House closed

Former trade union boss Sir Bill Morris has accused the government of being "immoral" and using blackmail in its latest asylum policy.

He was addressing protestors at a rally to mark the 10th anniversary of a controversial asylum detention centre in Oxfordshire.

Campaigners gathered in Oxford to call for the closure of Campsfield House, near Kidlington.

Home Secretary David Blunkett went back on plans to close the centre, which he had called "outdated" and "no longer appropriate for the 21st century", in 2002.

Addressing a crowd of about 100 protesters, Sir Bill attacked David Blunkett's latest policy.

It's a policy devoid of humanisation, a policy that lacks any moral integrity whatsoever and is a policy of desperation Sir Bill Morris

"It's very clear that the policy just isn't working and the suggestion that it should be changed so that the children of some asylum seekers could be taken into care is blackmail," he said.

"It's a policy devoid of humanisation, a policy that lacks any moral integrity whatsoever and is a policy of desperation."

Sir Bill said the current asylum situation was "an unholy mess" that needed urgent attention.

He added: "The role should be taken away from the Home Office and given to an independent body, a body that is not looking to score short term political points."

A Home Office spokesman said the idea behind the policy was that the government did not want children to suffer when benefits were withdrawn from their parents.

He said: "The policy is not designed to make families destitute and we do not believe many, if any, people would put their children in this position.

"It is designed as an incentive for people to return voluntarily before removal is enforced.

"In rare cases where it is necessary to end support we would not want children to be made destitute as a result of the actions of their parents so provision would be made to take them into care."

The first detainees were moved to Campsfield from the Harmondsworth centre near Heathrow Airport on 29 November, 1993.

After a number of riots, it was due to be closed.

But after a huge fire at Yarls Wood detention centre, the government had to keep Campsfield open in order to increase the number of failed asylum seekers who are deported.