Top cleric takes Woolas to task

A SENIOR church minister has attacked MP Phil Woolas for his “unmerciful” decisions.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said the UK must show a better way rather than attacking lawyers and charities working for refugees.

He attacked immigration minister Mr Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, for comments he gave in an interview to a national newspaper. The MP said migration lawyers and non-governmental organisations gave false hope and undermined the legal system.

Mr Woolas told the Chronicle: “It is wrong to string out the appeals processes for years, using tricks in the books, and raising false hope for economic migrants.

“I do not accuse all charities and law firms of this, but some do play the system and that is not fair.”

But the Archbishop, speaking at the Royal Society in London, said: “I would suggest that the allegation that lawyers are undermining the law is very serious indeed.”

Mr Woolas said: “I stand by my comments that some lawyers do play the system.”