15 May 2025
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev'd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has issued the following statement after the publication of the UK Government's Immigration White Paper on 12 May.
"It is entirely acceptable for any Government to build an immigration system which reflects the economic needs of the country and ensures that migration works for local communities, migrant workers and the wider British workforce. Sensible and nuanced policy conversations are needed to help encourage integration that builds community cohesion and prevents migrant exploitation. Addressing labour shortages should also not be at the expense of skills development and opportunities for domestic workers here in the UK. But I would also hope that the goals for our migration system could reflect the values we hold as a nation - fairness, opportunity, tolerance and respect. Because how we do things and how we communicate them is equally important.
"In the churches and different communities I am a part of, we are not an “island of strangers”. Migrants are not “strangers” but friends who fully participate and contribute as we worship, serve and live life together. The vast majority have applied through official routes to come here to the UK to live, work and study and their contributions go far beyond a simple binary GDP evaluation.
"Political leaders must acknowledge that words matter because they influence how people perceive and treat vulnerable people. It can never be acceptable to dehumanise migrants as if they are not deserving of dignity, compassion and rights. The Christian faith enjoys a rich scriptural tradition to help us understand how God views the “stranger”, in turn, therefore, modelling how we should do likewise. The divine pattern is clear in its inclusivity: the foreigner and outsider must be treated as equal, welcomed with love and accepted as neighbour.
"The White Paper does provide an opportunity to develop an integration strategy, with such proposals as accelerated citizenship and settlement for some migrants. I hope and pray the Government takes this opportunity to help unite communities rather than divide us further."
