Plan to ditch city's 'sanctuary' status defended

A Reform UK councillor has defended plans to withdraw Bradford Council from its City of Sanctuary status after opposition politicians accused the party of promoting "hate and division".

The Reform-led authority is considering ending the accreditation, which was awarded in 2021 in recognition of Bradford's commitment to welcoming and supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Opposition councillors have condemned the proposal, arguing it distracts from local issues and undermines efforts to help newcomers settle into the community.

But Reform councillor Ian Walker said the move was about "giving the people of Bradford through their elected members a say in how their future looks".

City of Sanctuary is a national charity that awards sanctuary status to authorities which commit to creating safe, inclusive and welcoming environments for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Walker, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and communities, would put forward a motion later this month calling for the status to be withdrawn.

He said the proposal was not motivated by cost, adding that the accreditation costs the authority £700 for three years.

Asked what would change if the motion was approved, Walker said the council would continue providing all statutory services to refugees and asylum seekers.

But with his motion, he said he wanted to create a debate.

"This motion is about how we control mass migration," he said.

"It's about giving the people of Bradford – through their elected members – a say in how their future looks. It's about democracy."

Green group leader Matt Edwards criticised the proposal, describing it as "genuinely absurd".

He said Reform should focus on issues such as bin collections, potholes and fly-tipping.

Labour group leader Imran Khan accused Reform of "falling back on their usual toxic recipe of hate and division".

He said City of Sanctuary helped refugees integrate into British society, which he described as a long-standing national tradition.

Responding to the criticism, Walker said: "I really don't think it will create hate and division. I don't see why people would think like that."

Council leader Stephen Place said the authority's priority was "Bradford residents first" and argued there needed to be a debate about the impact of immigration on local services.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.