The ongoing demonisation of migrants and refugees continues to pick up pace.
The return of Donald Trump as US President has enhanced the process, as he talks in terms of invasions and enemies of America. Walls are to be built, migrants incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay…
This country is not much better. Migrants have been vilified for many years, even though many have always staffed care homes and hospitals, built houses, harvested crops and worked in hospitality.
Instead of gratitude, there is an ongoing hostility, seeking to criminalise and stigmatise, those who have in the main contributed to the betterment of society.
Refugees coming over on small boats has been blown out of all proportion by spineless politicians egged on by a racist media selling its products on the back of fuelling hate.
Most of those coming across the Channel are desperate, fleeing for their lives, most come from war-torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
In terms of economic migrants, the country needs a steady flow to make the economy grow. The UK has a rapidly ageing population, with over-65s increasingly outnumbering under-16s.
The government continually talks of the millions of economically inactive people, then, about growth.
How in a country, with so many inactive, are we going to get that magic growth without migrants?
The fruits of attacking migrants and refugees was seen last summer with the riots across the country.
The government responded firmly, with heavy punishments being delivered by the courts.
In Walthamstow, among other places, people came out to say no.
But since then, the cowardice of the political class has resurfaced with the anti-migrant rhetoric of Reform and Kemi Badenoch's Tory Party running to keep up.
Other parties have shown worrying tendencies to emulate, rather than stand up to, the Reform agenda.
The result of such an approach will deliver Nigel Farage as the next Prime Minister.
The time now is to state a clear pro-migrant, inclusive narrative, not retire into the tired recesses of racism and hate.
Let's be bold renounce anti-migrant-based racism and tell another story.
- Paul Donovan is Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward, Redbridge Council and a blogger (paulfdonovan.blogspot.com).
