Politicians back move for Hackney to formally become a borough of sanctuary for refugees

Cllr Sophie Conway put forward the motion. Photograph: Hackney Labour

Politicians have backed a move for Hackney to officially join a network of places in the UK that welcome asylum seekers and refugees.

The council will now take the next steps to formally become a ‘borough of sanctuary’.

If accepted, Hackney will join a group of cities, towns and villages across the UK that have pledged to “provide support, dignity and welcome to refugees and people seeking sanctuary”.

The network, founded in 2005, also counts many schools, universities, libraries and theatres among its members.

Proposing the motion at this week’s full council, Cllr Sophie Conway (Labour, Hackney Central) said: “Our community values compassion, diversity and inclusivity and will unite to protect the safety and wellbeing of all our fellow human beings.”

She said the move “represents what we in Hackney stand for”.

Cllr Joe Walker (Labour, De Beauvoir) seconded the motion, adding: “It is an important part of who we are. We’ve welcomed refugees from Vietnam, Syria and the Ukraine.”

The council has provided refuge for people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan and from the conflict in Ukraine, and gives support to the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Walker said the council has also “opened its doors” to support residents caught up in the Windrush scandal and helping them navigate Whitehall’s compensation scheme.

Green councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock (Hackney Downs) said he wanted to ensure the council commits to not working with companies “propping up the hostile environment” by being involved in the deportation of refugees.

The Town Hall’s Windrush lead, Cllr Carole Williams, pledged to look into his suggestion.

She said: “We have long called for the end to the policies hostile to the protection of the most marginalised in our community. We will work with local organisations to provide the vital assistance these people need and advocate for their rights and challenge anti-refugee and anti-migrant attitudes wherever they emanate from.”

Councillors agreed to challenge anti-refugee and anti-migrant attitudes.

They also vowed to continue pushing for reforms to the government’s No Recourse to Public Funds policy, “so that people are no longer blocked from fully participating in society for years while they wait for their status to be resolved”.

Former councillor and trustee of Hackney Migrant Centre, Dr Rosemary Sales, was at the Town Hall to witness the decision.