Charities have criticised Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, for making “damaging” comments about the third sector.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester yesterday (3 October), Braverman criticised the voluntary sector for opposing Conservative immigration policies.
She said: “Each time I have gone to parliament to improve the law on immigration, Labour has tried to block us. Always aided by their allies in the third sector.
“Some of whom openly declare that they oppose national borders merely on principle. And all of them bleating the same incessant accusation: Racist. Racist. Racist.”
Braverman’s comments have been met with heavy criticism from charity leaders, with Sarah Vibert, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, warning the rhetoric could be damaging for the sector.
“These latest comments made by the Home Secretary are another example of her using misguided language to create a hostile climate for charities going about their legitimate and essential business,” said Vibert.
“Suggesting that charities are acting against the interests of the British public is a narrative that actively seeks to undermine the high levels of public trust in charities.”
Jane Ide, chief executive of the charity leaders body Acevo, said: “Braverman has again chosen to undermine the legitimate and well-defined role of charities to campaign on political issues in the pursuance of their mission and charitable objects and her statements are both incorrect and damaging to our democratic society.
“We would argue that democratically elected politicians of all parties, and particularly senior politicians with enormous power, have an important responsibility to avoid stoking the flames of culture wars and raising the temperature of political rhetoric.”
Refugee and migrant charities also criticised Braverman’s comments, with Ravishaan Rahel Mutiah, communications director at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, saying her language “shamelessly panders to the far-right” and uses immigrants as “political football”.
He said: “Instead of trying to silence dissent by blaming the third sector, this government needs to look at why they are being accused of it.
“Regardless of where it can be found, those in the third sector will call out racism when they see it. If it looks like a racist and acts like a racist, it’s called a racist. It’s as simple as that.”
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “Instead of the current inhumanity – exemplified by the huge number of newly recognised refugees who are being thrown out of hotels with virtually no notice and finding themselves on the streets – the government should uphold the right to asylum and have an approach that is not only about control but also compassion and competence.”