The Guardian has reported footage of people being removed from the UK, released by the Home Office. It shows men being taken off a bus and up the stairway of a charter jet to be deported from the UK. Guardian reporting is here, and below is my comment to the newspaper.

“Just using harsh and cruel language, bringing in longer sentences, or filming people being put on to planes, will not solve the problem. Seeking asylum is not a criminal act, and filming people who have been refused permission to stay in the UK is cruel.

The tactical mistake that they are making is that they will never be harsh or cruel enough for those who are utilising this for political gain. We will never go far enough for the Reform party.

The problem is that we will give people in these groups permission to go further and further using more racist rhetoric. It is enabling the mainstreaming of racism.”