The Government’s U-turn on the NHS surcharge for healthcare workers is major climbdown reflecting growing public recognition of the contribution of migrant workers and BAME communities to the NHS, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their life.
Responding to the announcement, SUTR President, Diane Abbott MP said: “This is a full-scale U-turn by this government. It shows exactly what can be achieved if we are determined to fight. Now we must step up pressure to remove the surcharge completely. No-one should pay twice for NHS access. No-one should be treated like a second-class citizen.”
Both the 2014 Immigration Act and the current immigration bill must be replaced with a fairer system that meets Britain’s economic, health and social needs. The 2014 Immigration Act introduced the NHS surcharge and the “hostile environment” towards immigrants and led to the Windrush scandal.
The weaknesses of the 2020 immigration bill have been exposed during the Coronavirus crisis. The bill extends the hostile environment to EU migrants, imposes high income thresholds for immigrants and discriminates against so-called “low skilled” workers. Many of these workers are in fact “key” workers that are desperately needed and kept the country going during the global pandemic. Limiting immigration could leave Britain in an even more vulnerable position in the event of any future pandemic or further waves of the current Coronavirus crisis.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said: “We welcome the government’s u-turn on NHS surcharges for NHS and care workers, but it’s not enough. The NHS surcharge must stop for everyone. The 2014 Immigration Act brought in the NHS surcharge, sparked the hostile environment, the Windrush Scandal that devastated many Caribbean families. The current immigration bill extends the hostile environment to EU nationals. Both must be scrapped. We need a fair immigration policy that does not retrospectively remove migrants rights, that benefits our economy, upholds human rights and ends the hostile environment.”
All asylum seekers, undocumented migrants or those without legal status currently in Britain, should be given full citizenship rights. During the present crisis, many prisoners have been freed. However no such freedoms have been granted to asylum seekers and undocumented migrants who do not have criminal convictions.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said: “Now the NHS surcharge should be scrapped for everyone. Migrant workers already pay tax, and healthcare is a right, not a privilege. In the middle of a global pandemic people are dying because they are afraid to seek healthcare. The government must grant citizenship rights for all. If prisoners with criminal convictions can be freed during the coronavirus crisis, then so too should asylum seekers and other migrants stuck in the system unable to work and access public services and funds.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said “The hostile environment, and the Windrush scandal led to many deaths affecting different black communities in Britain. This was manufactured and developed by the Tory governments, and adds insult to injury after visiting a ghastly miscarriage of justice on our grandparents and parents.
“This U-turn is a consequence of the exposure of racism amongst the ranks of the highest elements of our government. The surcharge was a racist vote-pleaser for a government chasing after UKIP votes.”
Look out for further online actions over the coming weeks demanding the government #ScrapTheSurcharge for all, give full citizenship rights to migrants and an amnesty for undocumented migrants & refugees.