A LOCAL Church of Scotland minister is among more than 100 religious leaders calling on the UK government to do more to welcome 'stateless' people to the country.

The Rev Christine Murdoch, minister at the Lochside linkage of Craigrownie Parish Church in Cove, Garelochhead Parish Church and St Modan's Parish Church in Rosneath, is among 110 Scottish religious figures backing a new initiative calling for improved rights and better support for people who no longer have a country to call their home.

The move, also being backed by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev Dr Derek Browning, comes during Interfaith Week (November 12-19) which seeks to build on the good relationships and partnerships between people of very diverse faiths and beliefs.

Other signatories include Bharti Tailor, vice-president of Religions for Peace UK, the Rev Lorraine Mellor, president of the Methodist Conference, Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, chair of the Liberal Judaism Rabbinic Conference, and Rabbi Hershel Gluck OBE, chairman of the Arab-Jewish Forum and chairman of the Muslim-Jewish Forum.

Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim representatives have supported the statement.

Ms Murdoch told the Advertiser: “As every human being is made in the image of God, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“If a person is stripped of their nationality, then we need to enable them to feel at home and valued in their new country, including allowing stateless people the ability to work and contribute to the wider society.”

The statement – part of the #LockedInLimbo campaign, led by the European Network on Statelessness – calls for action on part of the UK Government to review its policies towards stateless people as many end up in prolonged and pointless detention while the Home Office tries to remove them from the UK.

‘Stateless’ people without legal status cannot leave the UK because no country will accept them.

But without status, they have no permission to work in the UK and remain vulnerable to destitution, exploitation and detention.

The Home Office has recognised only around 40 people as eligible for statelessness leave since introducing a statelessness determination procedure in 2013.

Dr Browning said: “Churches have a vital and significant role in offering a message of hope and peace to the world.  It is good to see so many people wanting to engage with the issues and take action. 

“The role of the World Council of Churches  in  advocating for the rights of stateless people has been particularly important in helping to focus attention on this issue.”