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MU Disappointed By Comments From Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games Director Regarding Refugees

The MU joins the TUC, Equity and Bectu in a letter to the Commonwealth Games Committee, expressing concern over comments praising the Governments’ plan to send those seeking refuge in the UK to Rwanda.

Published: 29 April 2022 | 5:13 PM
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the bridge with Thames in the forefront, the sunlight streaming across image.
“We call on other leaders involved with the Commonwealth Games to distance themselves from both Nick Timothy’s statement and the Government's approach to refugees”. Image credit: Shutterstock.

The letter, signed by the Midlands region of the MU, TUC, Equity and Bectu is addressed to John Crabtree, the chairman of Birmingham organising committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Disappointment over comments made about refugees

In the document, the four Unions express disappointment over the comments made by Nick Timothy, a Director for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in which he praised the Government’s plans to send refugees to Rwanda, instead of the UK.

It states:

“We are delighted that our vibrant, multicultural, diverse West Midlands will be hosting this year” but that “for Nick Timothy to support such a toxic approach to refugees is appalling, stokes division and sends all the wrong signals about what our region represents”.

“We reject division and we call on other leaders involved with the Commonwealth Games to distance themselves from both Nick Timothy’s statement and the Government's approach to refugees”.

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