Letters: The far right needs to accept asylum seekers aren't just going to disappear

Readers respond to our recent article about asylum hotel protests.

Asylum hotels and the far right

There is a strong groundswell of local opinion against these hotels and there are plenty of ordinary people involved in organising and turning up to protest them. Local politicians (particularly Reform) are trying to make some hay by getting involved.

There are also far-right organisations who turn up, either because they like feeling like they’re on the popular side for once or to start violence.

The article says, “This is not just concerned local mums” and sure, it’s not just them. But it certainly is them as well as lots of other people who are in no way far right. On the other hand, there is a very concerted campaign to play these protests off as just racists and just the far right – on the far left as part of their push to invalidate anti-migration arguments and in the centre as a way to allow banning/ restricting the protests in the hope troublesome social unrest just disappears.

Probably worth saying, I’m fairly liberal, centre left and from an immigrant background. I am actively concerned about the far right and Reform, but pretending this issue hasn’t spread beyond the fringe groups to the mainstream is not going to make things any better.

u/PeriPeriTekken, Reddit 

There is still a huge political movement who still think that any opposition to mass migration, or any pointing out of cultural issues from mass migration from particular places, is racist and far right. 

u/Astriania, Reddit

The far right needs to accept that you cannot just expect asylum seekers to disappear by threatening violence against themselves. These people came here and have already faced life and death to do so. While I agree that the asylum system needs significant overhaul, violence and threats are not going to put people off coming here like the political right seem to think it will.

u/pajamakitten, Reddit

O’really?

I think Oasis should change their name to O’Asis. Oasis are famous for their Irish roots. Liam and Noel Gallagher are proud of their Irish roots, and have been to Ireland many times. They also have Irish ancestors and very Irish names. And one of their daughters Anaïs was pictured wearing a Glasgow Celtic top in Edinburgh. Glasgow Celtic are a Scottish team famous for their Irish connections and heritage. 

Oasis are playing Dublin in August. Some claim Oasis are even more Irish than U2.

Rory Fyfe Smith, Rhyl North Wales

Re: Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali’s resignation

At least she resigned swiftly instead of hanging on for weeks/months loudly proclaiming that nothing happened and if something did happen she did nothing wrong, like some Tories during the last few governments. Progress? Maybe?

@keithjf82, Instagram

Labour should introduce a government regional controller on rents, a body that visits property that’s being rented out and sets maximum and minimum amounts for the area it’s situated in and the size of the space.

@raypolhillart, Instagram 

Read more:

• Here’s the truth about asylum seeker hotels – as rioters try to burn them down
• Labour pledge to end use of asylum hotels ‘good for refugees, the taxpayer and communities’
• Delivery bikes outside hotels prove only one thing: The ban on work for asylum seekers must be lifted

Reign of terror

We’re living in dark times, indeed. I passed a group of terrorists in Derry last Saturday. The terrorists were gathered in a public area holding these terrorist signs. They are beginning to gather on our streets and civic centres all over the place. It is so brazen. One woman in the group I saw was an obvious terrorist by the way she was gripping her placard. 

They were standing in broad daylight shouting slogans and calling for the end to genocide in Gaza. What more evidence is needed in support of terrorist charges against them? 

Since then, I’ve been haunted by images of those signs and the slogans they bore: statements like “Stop the genocide in Gaza” and “UK complicit in genocide”. It was horrifying. 

People should adhere to the rule of law and feel thankful you’re not involved in terrorism like all the placard-wielding terrorists I witnessed in Derry last Saturday. Shame on them.

Louis Shawcross, Co. Down, N. Ireland

The riot act

I am just catching up with your issue 1677. Your headline includes the phrase “the UK riots”.

As far as I know, no riots took place in Scotland. In Scotland there were anti-racist demonstrations. I agree fundamentally with your intentions, but it is vital to make sure that journalism is accurate if it is to be effective.

V Franz, Perth

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