The video above goes into greater detail than this article - but the piece below has some vital details not covered by the video, so the best thing to do is read this and then watch the video.
Very well put. If the government allowed asylum seekers to work they would be less bored, able to contribute to society, feel valued and we can all move on.
I have near neighbours in a house used by the Home Office for refugee families. We're on our fourth family now. They have all been lovely people with horrific stories to tell. Every family so far has had their asylum claim granted. They have all been desperate to work, but are not allowed to. They spend all their time cleaning and tidying the house and garden.
I agree. Not all of the asylum seekers will be able to work - especially the young and some of the most traumatised. And those who might genuinely pose a danger.
But as a general principle, enabling asylum seekers to contribute to the society they're located in must be of help.
If course people are fleeing real persecution. But I'm afraid decades of unrestricted migration started under Blair, ramped up by the Tories, especially the Boriswave and our inability to remove criminals from the UK because of the ECHR, has absolutely hardened people's attitudes here. When communities are told by the authorities their worries about asylum hotels are potentially racist, and they should not communicate these, what do you think the result is going to be?
You do realise the people you're attacking here in the comments (plus Nick) are people who are trying to talk constructively about these issues and who are not calling everyone who raises concerns about asylum hotels racist?
I'm not attacking anyone, least of all Nick. But while comments are posted here that put the current liberal position mainly, I feel it's right to post more skeptical takes that are shared by the majority.
I understand that there's a principle that lawbreakers shouldn't be rewarded. (Leave aside for the time being that these are people whose cases have not been heard so they may or may not have a legitimate asylum claim.)
But given that these people are potentially going to be stuck in hotels for months, or even years... would you prefer for them to be supported at taxpayer expense? In preference to allowing them to work which would enable them to support themselves (at least to an extent)?
And given that long periods of time without work likely contribute to bad behaviour, wouldn't you prefer that people that might cause trouble be able to work, to contribute and if nothing else, to 'keep them out of trouble'?
I'm not saying there is a perfect solution, but you've recognised that at least some people who claim asylum here are genuinely fleeing persecution... Would you really prefer all of these people not be allowed to work while they're waiting for their asylum claim to be processed?
Personally, and acknowledging that this does potentially does involve 'rewarding rule-breakers', I cannot see how this isn't better for everyone. For the asylum seekers, but also - and perhaps more importantly - for the communities they're being housed in.
I think you'll find plenty do already work, for Deliveroo etc, and the grey economy.
Then we let them live in the community in HMOs where neighbours are not given any info.
We already have big city centre hotels taken out of circulation meaning fewer tourists, conferences, weddings etc.
More contracting of the local economy.
Next we're going to reduce the already pitiful supply of rented stock for the hard working often young CITIZENS of this country, so we can AGAIN prioritize others.
And this is fine is it?
As numbers unseen by a factor of 5-10 in previous generations impose immense strain on the country.
Interesting Nick, that you feel anxious in putting forwards your ideas.
It's not the right who will abuse you, it's the left.
The right may disagree with you, but won't try and take you down. It'll be the left.
So, discussing 90%+ of small boats users are young men, that so many nations they come from have zero respect for women or gays, that they've travelled thru any number of safe countries to arrive here indicating that they're mainly economic migrants, will get you flayed on social media.
As are so many Brits who are sick and tired of the pressures this puts upon the nation and it's social fabric.
And leftists then bemoan the rise and rise of Reform.
Hi Marc. A couple of things. One is that I don't feel particularly anxious about putting my ideas forward - I do it all the time, usually in fairly unflinching terms. I want to be careful about saying what I mean, but that's different. Another thing is - and this is a point of confusion for many people who read me, right and left - is that I am not particularly interested in being a part of a "team". I have my own opinions, and perhaps some of them are deemed to be on the left, some on the right. And I don't mind that. I have always seen myself as mainly being on the centre-right, but haven't seen a party that really embodies my point of view. Finally, I have been attacked by people on both the left and the right. I would say the trolls on the left are worse - but the right-wing ones can still be pretty bad.
I'm centre right as well, maintaining my moderate positions of yesteryear. The only thing I'm polar binary on is trans ideology, extreme liberalism gone mad.
I find it's the left online who try to shame me as a transphobe, and on the subject of your blog here, a bigoted xenophobe etc.
My advice for what it's worth is to always be frank. For sure, choose your words carefully. But do not self censor.
Brits increasingly won't self censor as well, hence Reform 35% in the polls.
Interesting that the ultra woke liberal Democrats in the Hamptons were up in arms when DeSantis coached in a few dozen illegals at the Southern border.
They had no issue with them being in poorer Red states, but stamped their feet when their neighbourhoods were threatened with drastic change.
And yet this is exactly what Starmer's plans for moving illegal migrants from asylum hotels to HMOs entails.
These HMOs are going to be in poorer parts of the UK...certainly nowhere near Westminster or the Islington/Notting Hill set...and again at the disadvantage of citizens here, as rental stock available will plummet (Serco being allowed to offer guaranteed 7 year leases at above market value levels).
Yet again, we're expected to look the other way and prioritize non citizens.
I guess we're politically 'lucky' that in Chichester our migrant hotel is genuinely only women and children. And that our hotel is on the outskirts of town. (Some) residents do miss having access to it as some clubs and events that used to meet there can no longer do so.
I suspect (though cannot be certain) that it is true that the hotel would not have survived without the government placing asylum seekers there. (Even though it's also true that Chichester is short of hotel accommodation for tourists... Although that's mainly demand for higher quality accommodation in the centre.)
Very well put. If the government allowed asylum seekers to work they would be less bored, able to contribute to society, feel valued and we can all move on.
I have near neighbours in a house used by the Home Office for refugee families. We're on our fourth family now. They have all been lovely people with horrific stories to tell. Every family so far has had their asylum claim granted. They have all been desperate to work, but are not allowed to. They spend all their time cleaning and tidying the house and garden.
I agree. Not all of the asylum seekers will be able to work - especially the young and some of the most traumatised. And those who might genuinely pose a danger.
But as a general principle, enabling asylum seekers to contribute to the society they're located in must be of help.
Yep, let's all reward lawbreakers and economic migrants.
On further reflection, let's not.
My neighbours fleeing persecution, including those who witnessed the killing of their brother, are neither illegal nor economic migrants.
If course people are fleeing real persecution. But I'm afraid decades of unrestricted migration started under Blair, ramped up by the Tories, especially the Boriswave and our inability to remove criminals from the UK because of the ECHR, has absolutely hardened people's attitudes here. When communities are told by the authorities their worries about asylum hotels are potentially racist, and they should not communicate these, what do you think the result is going to be?
You do realise the people you're attacking here in the comments (plus Nick) are people who are trying to talk constructively about these issues and who are not calling everyone who raises concerns about asylum hotels racist?
I'm not attacking anyone, least of all Nick. But while comments are posted here that put the current liberal position mainly, I feel it's right to post more skeptical takes that are shared by the majority.
I understand that there's a principle that lawbreakers shouldn't be rewarded. (Leave aside for the time being that these are people whose cases have not been heard so they may or may not have a legitimate asylum claim.)
But given that these people are potentially going to be stuck in hotels for months, or even years... would you prefer for them to be supported at taxpayer expense? In preference to allowing them to work which would enable them to support themselves (at least to an extent)?
And given that long periods of time without work likely contribute to bad behaviour, wouldn't you prefer that people that might cause trouble be able to work, to contribute and if nothing else, to 'keep them out of trouble'?
I'm not saying there is a perfect solution, but you've recognised that at least some people who claim asylum here are genuinely fleeing persecution... Would you really prefer all of these people not be allowed to work while they're waiting for their asylum claim to be processed?
Personally, and acknowledging that this does potentially does involve 'rewarding rule-breakers', I cannot see how this isn't better for everyone. For the asylum seekers, but also - and perhaps more importantly - for the communities they're being housed in.
So, we let them work.
I think you'll find plenty do already work, for Deliveroo etc, and the grey economy.
Then we let them live in the community in HMOs where neighbours are not given any info.
We already have big city centre hotels taken out of circulation meaning fewer tourists, conferences, weddings etc.
More contracting of the local economy.
Next we're going to reduce the already pitiful supply of rented stock for the hard working often young CITIZENS of this country, so we can AGAIN prioritize others.
And this is fine is it?
As numbers unseen by a factor of 5-10 in previous generations impose immense strain on the country.
Interesting Nick, that you feel anxious in putting forwards your ideas.
It's not the right who will abuse you, it's the left.
The right may disagree with you, but won't try and take you down. It'll be the left.
So, discussing 90%+ of small boats users are young men, that so many nations they come from have zero respect for women or gays, that they've travelled thru any number of safe countries to arrive here indicating that they're mainly economic migrants, will get you flayed on social media.
As are so many Brits who are sick and tired of the pressures this puts upon the nation and it's social fabric.
And leftists then bemoan the rise and rise of Reform.
Hi Marc. A couple of things. One is that I don't feel particularly anxious about putting my ideas forward - I do it all the time, usually in fairly unflinching terms. I want to be careful about saying what I mean, but that's different. Another thing is - and this is a point of confusion for many people who read me, right and left - is that I am not particularly interested in being a part of a "team". I have my own opinions, and perhaps some of them are deemed to be on the left, some on the right. And I don't mind that. I have always seen myself as mainly being on the centre-right, but haven't seen a party that really embodies my point of view. Finally, I have been attacked by people on both the left and the right. I would say the trolls on the left are worse - but the right-wing ones can still be pretty bad.
I'm centre right as well, maintaining my moderate positions of yesteryear. The only thing I'm polar binary on is trans ideology, extreme liberalism gone mad.
I find it's the left online who try to shame me as a transphobe, and on the subject of your blog here, a bigoted xenophobe etc.
My advice for what it's worth is to always be frank. For sure, choose your words carefully. But do not self censor.
Brits increasingly won't self censor as well, hence Reform 35% in the polls.
Second homes owned by MPs seem ideal place to put them or empty office space in WC1.
Interesting that the ultra woke liberal Democrats in the Hamptons were up in arms when DeSantis coached in a few dozen illegals at the Southern border.
They had no issue with them being in poorer Red states, but stamped their feet when their neighbourhoods were threatened with drastic change.
And yet this is exactly what Starmer's plans for moving illegal migrants from asylum hotels to HMOs entails.
These HMOs are going to be in poorer parts of the UK...certainly nowhere near Westminster or the Islington/Notting Hill set...and again at the disadvantage of citizens here, as rental stock available will plummet (Serco being allowed to offer guaranteed 7 year leases at above market value levels).
Yet again, we're expected to look the other way and prioritize non citizens.
I guess we're politically 'lucky' that in Chichester our migrant hotel is genuinely only women and children. And that our hotel is on the outskirts of town. (Some) residents do miss having access to it as some clubs and events that used to meet there can no longer do so.
I suspect (though cannot be certain) that it is true that the hotel would not have survived without the government placing asylum seekers there. (Even though it's also true that Chichester is short of hotel accommodation for tourists... Although that's mainly demand for higher quality accommodation in the centre.)
Doesn't apply to the one in Altrincham, where local residents were told by the police to stow their dissenting opinions.
I'm amazed at how much mental gymnastics goes on around this subject.
The vast majority in migrant hotels are young men.
The vast majority are economic migrants.
There are so many countries where the men coming from them do not share commonly agreed and established European/Western attitudes/norms.
And yet here we are, doing everything we can to not address reality.