Vicar slams MP over asylum

Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 02 February 2009

A VICAR has attacked Oldham MP Phil Woolas for his stance on asylum seekers — saying politicians are pandering to the worst elements of society. 

Rev Christopher Halliday, team rector of Saddleworth, has become the latest church figure to criticise the immigration minister.

He said that people fleeing their homelands faced almost insurmountable obstacles when they claim asylum here.

Likening this to the treatment of Jews who had fled Nazi Germany, he claimed that Mr Woolas appeared to be arguing that many asylum seekers are really economic migrants.

The Oldham West and Saddleworth MP has attracted criticism since he was given the immigration job in October, last year.

Days into the post, it was claimed that he had been “gagged” from appearing on “Question Time” after making allegedly controversial remarks on immigration.

A pro-migration protester hit him in the face with a custard pie and he was branded the new Enoch Powell by the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, a former bishop of Worcester. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, attacked his “unmerciful decisions” and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg accused him of stoking the fire of ethnic tension.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Rev Halliday, a lifelong Labour supporter, said he was appalled by the party’s attitude.

He added: “It strikes me they have lost the plot of what it means to be socialists.

“I am certain that Phil Woolas, like all politicians these days, is flying kites when it comes to saying he is going to change the laws about asylum seekers to see what the public reaction is. I am concerned if we just sit back and say nothing he will presume everybody thinks he is right.

“I am also concerned that in order to be elected they are pandering to the worst elements of our society. How many times do you read or hear about asylum seekers taking houses, getting money? How many Government ministers turn round and say this is not true?”

But Mr Woolas said Rev Halliday was mistaken about Government policy, adding: “Contrary to raising the bar on the Geneva Convention, we are arguing that it should be strengthened.

“The fact is there are economic migrants using the asylum system and to compare this with the fleeing of Jews from Nazi Germany is frankly inappropriate.

“I wish that people would read what is said, not what they think is said, before making such insulting and personal remarks.”