Step 1: Find your MP’s Twitter handle and email address by typing in your postcode here.

Step 2: Copy and paste the message below into your email to send a message to your MP.

Step 3: Don’t forget to let us know you took action by completing the form below the template email!

Dear [insert name] MP,

I am writing as a constituent who believes that people seeking asylum in the UK should be treated with dignity. Many people in the asylum system are forced to wait months and often years for a decision on their asylum claim, and I believe it is crucial that those people are granted permission to work so they are able to support themselves and avoid destitution while living here.

For survivors of trafficking who are seeking asylum on the basis that it is not safe to return to their country of origin, the inability to work and no legal means to adequate financial support can seriously impact their chances of recovery.

The Lift the Ban campaign, is calling for the right to work be granted to asylum seekers and their adult dependants after six months of having lodged an asylum claim or further submission, unconstrained by the Shortage Occupation List.

The campaign recently released new research showing how lifting these restrictions would benefit people seeking asylum and the UK more widely.

The Lift the Ban campaign has shown that the policy is supported by 81% of the UK public, and would:

• produce an estimated economic boost of £97.8m through increased tax revenues and savings on asylum support payments
• allow people to live in dignity and support themselves using the skills and experience they have already acquired (94% of those surveyed by Lift the Ban said they want to be able to work, and 45% reported having had previous occupations that would fall into the category of ‘critical worker’ during the Covid-19 pandemic)
• improve community cohesion, strengthening people’s chances of being able to integrate into their new communities

Despite all this, the Home Office has had the policy under review since December 2018, with no end in sight. As a constituent, I’m asking whether you will support this important campaign and write to the Home Secretary to call for urgent reform.

Will you help?

Yours sincerely,

[Insert name]