Senior political figures, among other critics, have expressed their concern that the UK’s recent far-right riots were partially incited by years of harmful political rhetoric against asylum seekers, immigrants and the law profession by the Conservative party. The critics argue that this type of language from top Tories amplified anti-immigrant sentiments, leading to the widespread unrest witnessed throughout England in the previous week.
Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s encouragements to “Stop the Boats” were taken up by rioters recently, while ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman characterised the arrival of asylum seekers on England’s shores as an “invasion”. This weekend saw far-right groups attacking accommodation used to shelter asylum seekers and mosques being targeted with threats.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former Conservative party chair, expressed how she has for years alerted the party of hieghtened anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia within its ranks. She emphasized that while the current handling of the disorder by the Labour government may not be impeccable, she feels safer with them at the helm than her Conservative counterparts.
Robert Jenrick, former immigration minister and current contender for the next Conservative party leader, has been noted for his stringent anti-immigration stance. His address to the Policy Exchange think-tank last year contained statements implying that unregulated immigration would erode public compassion and that illegal migrants’ lifestyles and values were contrasting with those of the UK.
The Refugee Council charity’s CEO, Enver Solomon, shared that such fiery political rhetoric, coupled with hostile invasion insinuations, has played a significant role in fueling the disdain and vilification of refugees that’s being blatantly demonstrated on the streets.
The preceding Conservative government was accused of causing a collapse in the asylum system and public faith in it, according to a veteran Labour MP. Diane Abbott, the first black female MP to be elected in 1987, criticised fellow politicians for consistently vilifying asylum seekers.
Commenting on the BBC’s Today programme, she stated that such unrelenting demonisation is what allows for incidents like burning down asylum seekers’ accommodations. She noted that this is what happens when discussions surrounding these issues disregard the humanity of those involved.
Abbott, showing her worry for the situation, has urged Labour’s current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to summon parliament in order to tackle the crisis. Abbott wanted her constituents in east London’s Hackney to witness their MPs describe the violence as it is: racially and Islamophobically driven, highlighting the terror it instils.
She articulately stated that if people have concerns about their own healthcare, housing or job security, they shouldn’t be prompted to view asylum seekers and immigrants as the culprits.
An associate of Jenrick, who has openly condemned the violence, warned that shrouding truth from the populace fuels conflict and doesn’t defuse it. The mutual failure of dominant parties to address public concerns could propel this type of disturbance. This perspective is shared by many party members.
Simultaneously, legal professionals, who were often held responsible by the former government for scuttling plans to deport irregular migrants to Rwanda, accused the party of inciting tensions.
Zoe Bantleman, the Immigration Law Practitioners Association’s legal director, indicated that the intended harassment of immigration lawyers and their clients is a direct result of the antagonistic environment nurtured by polarising, anti-migrant and populist rhetoric from high-ranking politicians. This rhetoric, she said, had been leveraged by far-right elements.
The president of the Law Society of England and Wales, Nick Emmerson, echoed this sentiment, arguing that the Tories’ vilifying of legal professionals had established an environment in which such rhetoric is still perceived as permissible. These threats, he said, evidence the repercussions of this rhetoric.
The Liberal Democrats held that their party has consistently advised that anyone with a public platform should abstain from dehumanising language and confront the fiery talk that fosters hate.
A representative of the Tory party expressed: “Our nation has no room for any form of extremism or illegal activity. The bedrock of our society acknowledges that alterations are only possible via tranquil and democratic processes. Rishi Sunak, in his duty as Prime Minister, emphasized the necessity of taking a stand against all forms of extremism.”
They added that the previous Conservative administration proposed modifications for handling extremists. The support for the Prevent programme, aimed at combating radical behaviour, was strengthened. Furthermore, they insisted that universities effectively curtail any extremity activities happening within the campus.
Suella Braverman has yet to provide her views on the matter.
– Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024