Natalie Bennett, the leader of the Green Party, has delivered a speech today at a rally against racism in London. The National Demonstration Against Racism and Facism was attended by thousands of people from across the UK.
Ms Bennett said:
"The leader of another political party, who I won't name, has this month claimed we should scrap 'much of' our race discrimination laws.
Now, I am aware that he won't have many backers here, but let's repeat why that would be a very bad idea: 37,000 race hate crimes took place in 2013-14.
That's more than 100 race hate crimes every day, 365 days a year.
Those are terrible figures. Figures that call for action, not inaction.
But today shows something that I think we should keep focussing on.
Something heartwarming, encouraging and excellent. All of you being here, today. The Green Party and I congratulate you!
At the heart of Britain are all of you, and all of your friends and allies who can't be here today - who believe in the ideals of the UN that in 1966 declared this Anti-Racism Day, that foresaw a world without xenophobia and bigotry.
At the heart of this country are people like us. People from all sorts of backgrounds, who choose to live here in the UK. People who believe in humanity, believe in Britain.
People who are proud to welcome others into their communities, and people who are proud to stand up to protect the rights of everybody to live here, to thrive, free from terror and free from violence.
The debate on immigration has become increasingly poisonous.
But let's turn it around, and focus on the refugees who should be able to come here, and stay here – who should be able to rely on the continuation of Britain's proud, long tradition of providing a refuge for people who need it.
The Green Party calls on David Cameron to take Britain's share of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees identified by the UN for its global resettlement programme. That he has refused to do so, and has through his alternative UK programme supported just 143 refugees, is a disgrace.
The Green Party calls for the LGBTIQ refugees at risk of deportation under a process identified as unfair and frequently discriminatory to be allowed to stay at the very least until we have a fair system. We call on an immediate moratorium on any deportation until the recommendations of John Vine, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, are acted upon.
We need to focus on the essential work of making a more peaceful, democratic, secure, environmentally stable world. There's much that has to change in British foreign policy with those objectives in mind.
We want to create a world in which no one has to flee their home, whether it be due to persecution, hunger or climate change. We want to create a safe just world.
But sadly, we're a long, long way from that.
In the meantime we should be proud to welcome people who need our help, we should be proud to welcome people who want to be here. And we should be proud, not ashamed, that we have anti-discrimination legislation.
That is what it means to be part of the United Kingdom. It is what it means to be united.
I am proud of our unity, of our determination to stand against racism and for decency and tolerance. Thank you for inviting me to be part of that."
ENDS