Meeting our MPs

Hemel volunteers meeting new MP David Taylor

We’ve been busy contacting all 12 of Hertfordshire's MPs since the general election to showcase our work and appeal for a better asylum system.

It was great to meet with new MP for Hemel Hempstead David Taylor (pictured above middle with representatives from HWR) recently, who said: “It's right that our Labour government will speed up asylum applications so that people are not left in limbo. I will also be pushing for a system that treats people with dignity, and addresses the problems in the system that leaves charities like Herts Welcomes Refugees picking up the pieces.”

And two local volunteers were invited to address members of Welwyn Hatfield Labour Group, including newly-elected MP Andrew Lewin. They showed great interest in our work, particularly the support we give to asylum seekers in two local hotels, and were keen to know what help they might be able to offer. This is a dialogue we intend to continue and we have already received several expressions of interest to help!

In Stevenage Kevin Bonavia contacted us for a very productive meeting.  Kevin is the co-chair with Baron Alf Dubs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees so was keen to learn of our experiences of current issues. We were able to let him know about concerns across the county such as the speedy roll-out of e-visas and the dearth of local legal aid immigration lawyers as well as the situation at the local asylum seeker hotels which he hopes to visit.