Lancaster's Roman Catholic Bishop has blasted politicians for using asylum seekers as political footballs'.

In a strongly worded statement, The Right Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, who chairs the Catholic Church's org-anisation for refugees, says poli-ticians on all sides are using the asylum issue to score points.

Britain's traditional reputation for welcoming refugees is at risk of being undermined, he adds, esp-ecially in the wake of the murder of a Manchester police officer and suggestions that asylum applicants are linked to terrorism.

Bishop Patrick says: "Politicians are scoring points. Asylum has become a political football, and that's one thing I am nervous about.

"I think there is a danger if politicians are going to attack asylum seekers it is encouragement for others in our society to go on the attack. It is very easy to make asylum seekers scapegoats."

And he goes on: "In recent times the Government has been sending out mixed signals about its attitude to asylum seekers. While the Home Secretary says it is time to stand up and be counted' in defence of asylum seekers, the Prime Minister holds out the prospect of withdrawing from our obligations under the European convention on human rights."

"The leader of the opposition has also been advocating draconian security measures for all asylum seekers."

Bishop Patrick adds: "It is alarming that Britain, as a country with a good record of accepting asylum seekers, is becoming increasingly hardline, fuelled by relentless attacks on asylum seekers by sections of the media."

February 6, 2003 09:00