A CAMPAIGN against the voucher system for asylum seekers is being launched in the North-East.
Following a meeting on Thursday at Middlesbrough Town Hall, the North-East Coalition for Asylum Rights (Necfar) has decided to call for a regular benefits system for asylum seekers.
The meeting was attended by the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Robert Ladds, Redcar MP Vera Baird, and Middlesbrough Borough Council leader, Ken Walker.
A message was read from Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, reaffirming his opposition to the voucher system.
Pete Widlinski, of Necfar, said: "Vera Baird was very critical of the voucher scheme and felt it may breach the Human Rights Act. There was a very good discussion on the way asylum seekers are treated, and it was agreed to launch a regional campaign against the voucher system.
"I will be organising a meeting to see how we can take things further.
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