Andy Burnham can win back Labour voters by supporting migrants | Letter
Simon Steyne says the MP who is expected to be the next prime minister has a chance to appeal to anti-racist former supporters who reject xenophobic policiesYour thoughtful editorial about...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Simon Steyne says the MP who is expected to be the next prime minister has a chance to appeal to anti-racist former supporters who reject xenophobic policies Your thoughtful editorial about the immigration bill stresses that, despite demonstrable facts, “Each turn of the dial in a draconian direction reinforces voters’ conviction that the system is out of control, encouraging support for opposition parties that pledge increasingly extreme measures” ( The Guardian view on yet another immigration bill: law as performance is a failing model, 1 July ). Indeed, besides diehard racists there are those who have been convinced that migration and asylum present existential threats to Britain. The government refuses to present the contrary evidence, and most mainstream media persistent in conflating migration and asylum, undocumented entry, smuggling and trafficking, and devote much coverage to small boats but little to the absence of safe routes. They also ignore the absence, in the 1951 UN convention , of a “first safe country” provision (if it existed, hardly any refugees would be here). Continue reading...