Delivering campaign strategies

The UK campaign against the use of supermarket vouchers to support

asylum seekers

A timeline

• Nov 1999 – Immigration and Asylum Act on statute book

• From 1st April 2000 all asylum seekers to be supported by vouchers – no cash and no change.

• Jan 2000 Oxfam signs joint letter in Guardian against the voucher scheme.

• Jun 2000 Oxfam produces supermarket campaign action card with quote from trade union leader Bill Morris – 50,000 cards printed

• Sep 2000 Trade Unions Congress conference – Bill Morris goes shopping with an asylum seekers gaining media coverage

• Joint Oxfam/Refugee Council/T&G event attracts over 200 people

• Bill Morris moves successful motion commits TUC to campaigning against voucher scheme

• Sep 2000 Labour Party conference – T&G emergency motion on vouchers comes second in ballot behind pensions

• Dossier of Disgrace prepared by Oxfam and Refugee Council for Bill Morris to share with Prime Minister and Home Secretary

• NEC statement committing to providing change and to a review of vouchers

• Nov 2000 – Government announces details of vouchers review

• Dec 2000 – Oxfam/Refugee Council/ T&G produce report ‘Token Gestures’ on voucher scheme at the House of Commons

• T&G writes to every Labour MP at Christmas urging abolition of vouchers

• Apr 2001 – Home Office sources confirm want to delay outcome of review until after the General Election

• Jun 2001 – Labour re-elected with new Home Secretary

• Jun 2001 – Body Shop runs campaign in 50 of its stores

• Jun 2001 – joint letter signed by British Medical Association and Local Government Association

• July 2001 – new Oxfam/Refugee Council campaign card with research findings. 50,000 cards sent to supporters for them to write to their MP

• Aug 2001 – Times and Independent carry stories of rebellion at Labour conference on vouchers

• Oct 2001 – Labour Party conference – delegates receive a ‘PRODUCT RECALL’ card. BMA produce dossier on health impact. T&G emergency motion tops ballot

• 29th Oct 2001 Home Secretary announces voucher scheme to be scrapped

And finally....

• 8th April 2002 – asylum seekers able to use cash to buy essential living goods

• But two years later re-emergence of vouchers for end of process asylum seekers – the so-called section 4 – the campaign continued...