The SDLP council group on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is proud to support the Council of Sanctuary proposal, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to ensuring that our district is a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive place for everyone who lives here, regardless of their background or nationality.
In supporting this initiative, we are standing up for the simple but powerful principle that public services must work for all members of our community, and that our council has a role to play in delivering that in a fair, compassionate, and responsible way.
Newry, Mourne and Down is home to people from many different walks of life and dozens of nationalities. These are people who are not only our neighbours and friends, but who work in our schools, staff our GP surgeries, care for our loved ones, and help keep our local hospital open. In fact, our health and social care system, stretched as it is, would simply not function without the dedication of people from a wide range of ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds. We owe them more than just thanks, we owe them dignity and respect.
This move to become a Council of Sanctuary is not about immigration powers, which are solely the responsibility of the UK Home Office, nor is it about encouraging people to come to the district. What it is about is making sure that those who have been legally placed here, including a very small number of people seeking asylum, are treated with fairness and compassion, and are supported to participate fully in community life.
As of March 2024, there were only 63 people receiving asylum support across the entire district. None are being housed in luxury accommodation or so-called “five-star hotels”, that narrative is not only false, it’s dangerous and divisive. What they need is the same thing we all want: a safe home, access to basic services, and the opportunity to contribute.
Our decision to support the Council of Sanctuary initiative also acts as a counter to the rising wave of misinformation and online fearmongering that has targeted minority communities. We believe the best antidote to division is the truth, and the truth is, our public services are under pressure not because of new communities, but because of years of political failure at Stormont.
Let’s be clear: the crisis in housing, education, and healthcare is not caused by migrants, asylum seekers or any minority group. It is the result of five years of a collapsed Executive, chronic underfunding, and a lack of serious leadership from the departments that actually have the power to change things.
Newry, Mourne and Down is a district with a proud tradition of hospitality and resilience. We are confident that becoming a Council of Sanctuary will build on that tradition and send a clear message that this council delivers for everyone, treats people with fairness and dignity, and stands against fear and division.
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 