The Bishop of Oxford has attacked Nigel Farage’s abhorrent and unworkable refugee policies in a strongly worded open letter, following the Reform leader’s press conference in the city.
Perhaps the most powerful point the bishop made concerned the toxic politicisation of migration and asylum. leading to ever-greater intolerance and prejudice.
He wrote: “Most of all, I disagree profoundly with your attempts to politicise the questions of migration and asylum by deliberately increasing fear of the stranger in our communities. Community cohesion and mutual respect are vital assets in any local community. There are many, many forces which seek to separate good neighbours and sow distrust. We have seen an increase in hate crime in recent months, even in this kindest and most international of cities. To see any politician with a public platform seeking to play on these fears and stoke division for political advantage is deeply disturbing.”