21 February 2026: 28 Members and Friends of QARN met online on Saturday 21 February 2026 for a Meeting for Worship for Business to discern how we can take forward to Britain Yearly Meeting our urgent concerns as a Quaker Recognised Body about refugee and asylum matters. We were reminded of the Citation of Friends by the Nobel Peace prize committee which mentioned compassion “from the nameless to the nameless”. We see no compassion in the stance and actions of the government displayed in its current proposals for restructuring the asylum and immigration rules. We were reminded of our testimonies to truth, equality and peace which should underpin all actions.
We have prepared papers detailing our concerns about the present proposals of the government and stand behind them ready to explain as called. We see the situation as urgent because the government proposes to progress its measures rapidly by procedures that circumvent proper scrutiny of changes – changes which we believe are in conflict with international law.
We ask BYM to recognise the racism inherent in the current proposals. We ask BYM to respond to its faith-based leadings in a gathered session. We hope that Quakers in Britain will make a strong statement. We also ask for resources to be made available to support Quakers across the country working for equality and justice for people who seek sanctuary, unique, precious, children of God. QARN will be eager to offer support for Yearly Meeting’s consideration. We ask our Steering Group to take this minute forward and to share it with other Quaker bodies as it sees fit.
21 February 2026
Fred Ashmore
Sheila Mosley, Co Clerks
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Here are the links to papers which accompanied the agenda for Saturday
Useful things to read in advance
Paper by Barbara Forbes New proposals on asylum and immigration for QARN use
Open letter to Keir Starmer by David Forbes
An end to Sanctuary and a stop to integration
Quakers in Britain statement on new asylum policies, November 2025
Quaker Meetings have supported our Minute on this concern, and we thank them:
Coventry Quakers
Central England Peace Hub Action Group
Sheffield Central Meeting:
5. Quaker Asylum and Refugee NetworkWe have received a minute from the recent special meeting for worship for business of the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network on 21st February, which discussed urgent concerns about the government’s proposals for restructuring the asylum and immigration rules. We have heard that some people granted refugee status would have to wait 20 years to apply for permanent settlement instead of 5 at present, current protections for victims of torture or human trafficking would be reduced and the automatic right to family reunion would be abolished. Some of these changes are being introduced in a way which avoids proper Parliamentary scrutiny. A number of Friends in our Meeting have regular contact with asylum seekers and refugees in our city and know of the distress and uncertainty these proposals are causing. The minute from QARN asks us to request consideration and strong engagement with these issues by Quakers in Britain at Yearly Meeting – we are in agreement with the concerns raised in their minute and will send them this minute in support. We ask Area Meeting to also consider the QARN minute and whether they wish to engage further with it. This is another matter in which we would like to engage our MPs in dialogue. Ian McHugh and Fred Langridge will draft a letter for our MPs.
Sheffield & Balby Area Meeting
Minute 8 of Sheffield & Balby Area Meeting 8th March 2026
Minute of Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN)
We have received a minute from Sheffield Central asking us to consider the QARN Minute of 21st February which is attached to these minutes and has been sent out in advance.
The QARN minute discussed urgent concerns about the government’s proposals for restructuring the asylum and immigration rules. (QARN’s summary of the proposals is attached and was sent out in advance.) We have heard that some people granted refugee status would have to wait 20 years to apply for permanent settlement instead of 5 at present, current protections for victims of torture or human trafficking would be reduced and the automatic right to family reunion would be abolished. Some of these changes are being introduced in a way which avoids proper Parliamentary scrutiny.
The QARN minute asks us to request consideration and strong engagement with these issues by Quakers in Britain at Yearly Meeting. We are in agreement with the concerns raised in that minute and ask our Clerks to send QARN this minute in support.
We note that Sheffield Central has asked its Clerks to draft a letter to MPs about this matter, with a request to engage in dialogue.
We have also received, via QARN, a letter prepared by the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), which is a partnership between the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. Local, as well as national, faith leaders are being asked to sign it. The letter has been sent out in advance and is attached to these minutes.
We agree that our Clerks should sign the letter on our behalf.
Our Friend, Ian McHugh has spoken to us about the background to the letter.
Lincolnshire Area Meeting – Meeting for Worship for Business, held 7th March, 2026:
14.26 Response to Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network Minute (QARN) from a Special Meeting for Worship, held 21 February 2026
Lincolnshire Area Meeting supports QARN’s call for a strong Quaker voice in response to government proposals to progress its measures rapidly by procedures that circumvent proper scrutiny of changes – changes which QARN and this Meeting believe are in conflict with international law and inherently prejudicial. Further to this, we also urge BYM to respond to its faith-based leadings in a gathered session, and for resources to be made available to support Quakers across the country working for equality and justice.
We send this Minute of support to YM Agenda Planning Committee.
Leicester Area Meeting: At a Meeting for Worship for Business of Leicester Area Meeting Quakers held on 19 April 2026 at Leicester Meeting House and online
19/2026: Minute from QARN
We have had forwarded to us by Leicester LM Sanctuary Group a minute from Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network, reproduced in documents in advance. Leicester Sanctuary Group suggests this is forwarded by us to Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee for its consideration. QARN hopes that Yearly Meeting in May will be prompted to make a strong protest about the recent new proposals concerning the asylum regime, which it believes is contrary to international law.
We unite with this minute and ask our Clerk to forward this minute and QARN’s minute to Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee.
Minute from QARN
21 February 2026: 28 Members and Friends of QARN met online on Saturday 21 February 2026 for a Meeting for Worship for Business to discern how we can take forward to Britain Yearly Meeting our urgent concerns as a Quaker Recognised Body about refugee and asylum matters. We were reminded of the Citation of Friends by the Nobel Peace prize committee which mentioned compassion “from the nameless to the nameless”. We see no compassion in the stance and actions of the government displayed in its current proposals for restructuring the asylum and immigration rules. We were reminded of our testimonies to truth, equality and peace which should underpin all actions.
We have prepared papers detailing our concerns about the present proposals of the government and stand behind them ready to explain as called. We see the situation as urgent because the government proposes to progress its measures rapidly by procedures that circumvent proper scrutiny of changes – changes which we believe are in conflict with international law.
We ask BYM to recognise the racism inherent in the current proposals. We ask BYM to respond to its faith-based leadings in a gathered session. We hope that Quakers in Britain will make a strong statement. We also ask for resources to be made available to support Quakers across the country working for equality and justice for people who seek sanctuary, unique, precious, children of God. QARN will be eager to offer support for Yearly Meeting’s consideration. We ask our Steering Group to take this minute forward and to share it with other Quaker bodies as it sees fit.
21 February 2026
Fred Ashmore and Sheila Mosley, Co Clerks
Streatham & Brixton Quaker Meeting
Meeting for Worship for Business, 19 April 2026
Minute 2: Concern about the proposed removal of the rights to sanctuary for refugees in the UK:
Ginny Baumann and Sue Balmer have asked us to consider this matter and to decide whether to unite with a concern being forwarded to Britain Yearly Meeting, for its discernment.
We agree to unite with the concern being brought about the removal of the rights to sanctuary for refugees in the UK and we request our Clerk to forward this Minute to Joint London Area Meeting arrangements committee, and to send a copy of this minute to South London Area Meeting, for information.
We further agree that our Meeting explores ways in which individual Friends and local Friends collectively can undertake positive action to support this concern by expanding our understanding, perhaps in a Learning Together session, and by collecting and promoting information resources. We would also welcome a broader dialogue and support for Friends to challenge negative narratives about immigration in such a way that has impact, avoids harsh judgement and aligns with our Quaker values to respect the views of others.