Stick to asylum facts, MPs told

Politicians have been asked not to exploit people's anxieties

The UN's refugee agency is asking British politicians to act responsibly and not spread "asylum myths" as they continue general election campaigning.

Anne Dawson-Shepherd of the UNHCR says asylum applications have dropped by 61% in two years but is worried the issue gets "lumped" with immigration.

She has written to MPs warning against "xenophobia and political opportunism".

Labour and the Tories pledge tougher asylum rules, while the Lib Dems would lift the bar on asylum seekers working.

Immigration and asylum became important issues in the pre-election campaign after the Conservatives unveiled plans for quotas for asylum seekers and for applications to be processed outside the UK.

Refugees are not a threat, but are threatened, and thus deserve Britain's support and understanding Anne Dawson-Shepherd, UNHCR

Labour has said it will tighten up the asylum system further with tougher rules on settlement and more deportations, but says the Tory policies are "unworkable".

Ms Dawson-Shepherd said she was worried about some of the "crisis rhetoric" from some politicians so far and warned that the UK needed to share, not shift, responsibility for asylum.

In her letter, she asked politicians to show "leadership and social responsibility" to help reduce prejudice against refugees and asylum seekers.

"Refugees are extremely vulnerable, having experienced violence in their homelands, and arrive in the UK without family or other support networks," she said.

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"They are not a threat, but are threatened, and thus deserve Britain's support and understanding."

Her letter follows the Archbishop of Canterbury's warning to party leaders not to exploit people's fears on issues such as asylum, terrorism and immigration.

We refused to get involved in a bidding war on these issues Mark Oaten, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman

The Liberal Democrats support a common EU asylum policy with fair sharing of asylum settlement and allowing asylum seekers to work so they do not have to rely on benefits.

Their home affairs spokesman, Mark Oaten, said: "Liberal Democrats have a proud record of speaking positively about immigration and welcoming genuine asylum seekers.

"We refused to get involved in a bidding war on these issues in the past and will continue our stance throughout the election."

A Labour party spokesman said: "Labour understands that asylum and immigration are concerns for many people.

"But unlike the Tories, we are dealing with the issue, not exploiting it."

A Conservative spokesman: "It is the duty of politicians to talk about the issues that matter to people.

"There are real problems on asylum and immigration and we do not believe it is racist to talk about our plans to improve the system."