Language matters.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister made some extremely disturbing comments whilst announcing his Government’s white paper on immigration. Such dangerous comments included that the UK risks becoming an ‘island of strangers’ as a result of migration.

We have seen time and time again the consequences of the hostile rhetoric and dangerous ‘othering’ of people seeking asylum and migrants.

One only need to look back to the far-right, racist riots of last summer to witness how hostility breeds violence and division.

Dehumanising, divisive and racist language has sadly become normalised. To witness this from the Prime Minister is chilling.

This language harms us all.

We urge all politicians to reject the dangerous tactics of dog-whistle politics and the scapegoating of marginalised communities.

The UK prides itself on values of community and compassion – values that should apply to all of us, no matter who we are or where we come from.

Today, and every day, we stand with women seeking safety in the UK, and all those who move.