As the outgoing chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon has witnessed firsthand the drastic changes in the asylum and migration landscape over the past five years. The rhetoric and intent behind the numerous legislative changes have been clear – to deter so-called “asylum shopping,” disrupt people-smuggling gangs, ramp up removals of migrants, and ultimately deliver control of the UK’s borders.
However, this approach has come at a significant cost. The narrative shift has emboldened the far-right, leading to a rise in hostility and toxicity towards asylum seekers, particularly single men, who are now seen as the “root of all our problems.” Solomon recounts the unthinkable – witnessing a hotel housing asylum seekers set on fire, hearing reports of refugees being beaten up in the streets, and organisations working with refugees facing sustained attacks on social media.
Despite analysis suggesting that annual net migration could be negative by the end of the year, the majority of voters believe immigration is increasing, and have no confidence in the government’s ability to control the UK’s borders. This, coupled with the dysfunctional nature of the asylum system, has led to a rise in scepticism and disbelief around the impact of immigration.
As Solomon prepares to leave his role, he emphasises the urgent need for political leaders to do more to bring an end to the division and hate that the “othering” of migrants has created. He calls for a renewed, values-based multilateralism that delivers global solutions to what is, at its core, a global challenge.
The choice for the governing Labour party is a stark one – continue with an approach that essentially endorses Nigel Farage’s views, or confidently articulate an alternative worldview that proudly celebrates the UK’s integration story and embraces the notion of a shared humanity. This is a critical moment, and one that requires a collective stand for the British values of fairness, decency, and compassion.