THE UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ is causing racist discrimination, according to Church leaders.

The Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church have signed a letter to the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, calling for an end to government pushing people into destitution to force them to leave the country.

They say there is evidence of people unable to access homes or jobs because they “don’t look British”.

A report commissioned by churches, including the Church of Scotland, found the government policy was excluding people from society.

The letter states: “As the report shows, this is leading to poverty, homelessness and avoidable suffering. We believe it is inhumane to use destitution, or the threat of destitution, as a policy tool to encourage people to leave the country.

“We are also concerned by the mounting evidence that hostile environment measures are causing racist discrimination. People who do not look or sound ‘British’ are now facing increased difficulty in finding homes and employment, because landlords and employers are being asked to play the role of border guards.”

A spokesman for the church of Scotland said: “Is it any wonder that Churches are speaking out about immigration policy?

“In Glasgow, up to 300 asylum seekers who have had their right to remain turned down are under threat of being evicted from their homes.

“Once evicted they will lose the right to housing and will be faced with homelessness and destitution.”