The Church of Scotland has joined 19 other church leaders from across the UK in urging the Home Secretary to put an end to the so-called ‘hostile environment’ of policies forcing some destitute people to leave the UK.
In a strongly-worded open letter to Sajid Javid, signed by leaders including the Rev Dr Richard Frazer, Convener of the Church’s Church and Society Council, they argue that destitution deliberately inflicted by the UK Government is 'inhumane' and leads to racial discrimination.
The ‘hostile environment’ is defined as the web of government policies designed to make life so difficult for people who cannot prove they have the right to live in the UK that they will choose to leave.