The Asylum Myths
A race awareness booklet for UNISONScotland members
UNISON is committed to challenging the far right in
Scotland. They try to spread fear and distrust among communities
for political advantage. They offer no solutions to Scotland's
problems only hatred.Their lies confuse the public about serious
issues such as jobs, living conditions and strains on public services.
Recently far right organisations have used lies about
immigration as a key tool to recruit members and voters. They have
created confusion about immigration refugees and asylum seekers
and used this to highlight their hatred for Scotland's minority
ethnic communities. These lies have become part of the mainstream
and are often presented as facts in some sections of the media.
UNISON will challenge these lies and tell the truth
about the valuable contribution that Scotland's diverse communities
make to Scotland as a whole. This booklet forms part of UNISON's
ongoing campaign. It contains valuable information that will support
you in your work challenging the lies.
Matt Smith
Scottish Secretary UNISON
Mike Kirby
Scottish Convenor UNISON
In Germany first they came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up,
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up,
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I did not speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one
left to speak up for me.
Pastor Martin Niemoller, 1945
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The Asylum Myths
Fear of Strangers
Extreme right wing groups all seek to build upon fear,
fear of strangers, of the unknown, of being taken over, swamped,
and flooded. These powerful emotions are used to win votes and support
far-right parties. They exaggerate the facts in order to frighten
people. This booklet confronts the myths and lies.
Fascism; what is it?
Fascism is an extreme right-wing political force.
It was started by Mussolini in Italy in 1919. Fascism is based on
strong nationalism, racism, central control of the economy and military
dictatorship. Hitler based his Nazi party on it.
Small British parties have taken up these ideas, including
the British National Party (BNP), The National Front (NF), White
National Party (WNP) and the November 9th Society (N9S).
What do Fascists, Nazis & Racists have in common?
- They seek to inflame tensions between racialgroups and communities.
- They blame foreigners and ‘outsiders' for social problems
such as unemployment and crime.
- They spread fear of a loss of a national identity.
- They spread violence and intimidation.
- They terrorise targets, such as black and ethnic minority people.
- They see world trade as a foreign conspiracy.
- Trade unions are seen as a threat.
- They are fiercely anti- European but maintain strong European
networks of far-right parties.
So why worry?
What's the problem? British fascism has never
been very strong. Fascist parties such as BNP, NF, WNP & N9S
are small. When they stand for election, they get a handful of votes.
They have to date failed in every election in Scotland. So why worry
about them?
- We must not be complacent. At a time when people are fed-up
with politics, extreme partiescan gain ground.
- They poison our politics. Even a small group can inject hatred
and abuse into political campaigns.
- Their poison can spread. Some of their policies get absorbed
into the more mainstream parties.
- Hostility towards Europe and attacks on asylum seekers spread
racial prejudice.
- They generate fear. They want people to be afraid. Afraid that
the country is being taken over by foreigners or that the British
way of life is under threat. They also want to terrorise outsiders
and spread racial violence.
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so who are the far right?
British National Party
The BNP made the news when it captured a few council
seats in the North of England. It supports the ‘British Native
People' although how this is defined is unclear. It seeks to
stop all inward migration and wants resettlement of existing immigrants.
On crime it calls for corporal and capital punishments. The BNP
demands withdrawal from the European Union. It would "return our
economy and land to British ownership", presumably by forced seizures
and "the selective exclusion of foreign-made goods".
The UK economy is based upon global trade and such
policies would cause such a catastrophe it is hard to imagine the
effect on jobs. Hatred for foreigners is at the centre of every
policy.
The BNP claim to have active branches in Edinburgh
and Glasgow. They also claim to have groups in Ayrshire, Borders,
Central, Fife, West Lothian and Highlands & Islands. During
last year's European Election they fielded seven candidates,
securing 19, 427 votes (1.65%).
National Front
Since its high point in the 1970's, the NF has
been torn apart by internal splits. It describes itself as "Britain's
longest-lived White Nationalist Movement, poised on the brink of
the new millennium ready to mushroom again".
It has links to violent gangs and hard line Nazis.
Its race-hate politics are similar to the BNP:
"Send all non-whites back to their country of origin.
The only way to live in a peaceful society is when all members originate
from the same race".
Here in Scotland, they claim to be active in Dundee,
Hamilton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, where they have unsuccessfully
stood in a local government by-election.
Combat 18
The 1 and the 8 comes from A and H in Adolf Hitler.
They were named in tribute to Hitler and they are indeed neo-nazis.
They were formed in 1992 as a stewarding group for
the BNP. They are a highly secretive and paranoid group that has
been linked to numerous violent racist attacks across the UK. Like
the BNP and NF, its recruiting ground has been amongst football
hooligans and skinhead gangs. Many members of the BNP and NF have
been linked to Combat 18 and their activities.
White National Party
The WNP calls itself the UK arm of Aryan Unity and
was formed in May 2002. The WNP claims to be committed to a future
for white children.
The WNP is an extreme right wing organisation based
in West Yorkshire. They are behind the Redwatch website. This website
targets trade unionists, anti-racists and other opponents of the
far right.
The WNP has been attempting to organise in Scotland
since the summer of 2003. The Scotsman ran an article on them in
September 2003 which highlighted their application to Glasgow City
Council for permission to hold its Campaign against Asylum Seekers
event in George Square. They anticipated that they would be joined
by 60 WNP members from all over the UK. The article also highlighted
that they would be joined by Scot's "fed up with asylum seekers
draining vital medical and social services". Permission to stage
this event was refused.
Over the last few months the Barrhead News has exposed
their campaign against paedophiles.
November 9th Society
The November 9th Society (N9S) take pride in calling
themselves as "a modern day National Socialist political party changing
the way people see Britain". These self confessed Nazis are led
by 40 year old Bradford based Kevin Quinn who calls himself their
National Director.
N9S advocate idolising and the worship of Adolf Hitler,
and the policies and ideologies of the N9S are of this ilk.
They recently applied to Renfrewshire Council, seeking
permission to stage a town centre demonstration in Paisley. Thankfully
this event did not take place. The Paisley Daily Express when reporting
on this quite rightly classed them as "scum".
What is the significance of November 9th?
"On November 9th 1923, 16 National Socialists were
murdered in Munich, while peacefully marching for National Socialism.
We chose to honour those fallen comrades by using the date of their
murder as our party name, so that we, and every National Socialist,
would be reminded of their sacrifice".
Other right wing parties whilst less offensive can
seek to capitalise on similar fears.
UK Independence Party
UKIP followers believe that every aspect of our lives
is affected by an evil Brussels conspiracy. They claim that Europe
wishes to impose a ‘Napoleonic Code' on Britain, meaning
we can be; guilty until proven innocent, face unlimited detention
without charge with no right to trial by jury. So no scare-mongering
there then!
They say that they are not a racist party, but the
links section of the UKIP website has links to many shadowy fringe
groups including The Campaign for Independent Britain, which openly
quotes Hitler.
A former MEP was former Labour MP and BBC presenter
Robert Kilroy Silk. ‘Kilroy' hit the headlines prior to
last years European Elections for his anti-Arab and anti-Moslem
views in which he referred to Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb-amputators
and women repressors".
Kilroy recently left UKIP after branding some members
as ‘bloody right wing fascists'. He has recently formed
a new right wing party called Veritas (Latin for truth).
On possible links with the trade union movement. Fabian
Olins, Treasurer of the British Weights and Measures Association
and UKIP member said, "A pact with the trade unions is a pact with
the devil". (UKIP annual conference, October 2003)
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racist myths
We're full up, we can't
take any more!
The vision is frightening: population growing out-of-hand;
foreigners flooding in from across the world to take our jobs and
live well on state hand-outs.
But what is the truth? The 2001 census is reckoned
to be the most accurate ever. The first shock was that we have been
over-estimating our population. The survey knocked off a million
people! There are 58.8 million in the UK - just over 5 million (5,045,000)
in Scotland. It is projected that the population of Scotland will
fall below 5 million to 4,926,000 by 2021. In 2040 it is projected
that the population will fall to 4,590,000.
The UK is home to less than 2% of the world's
refugees, around 250,000 people from around nearly 10m worldwide.
The birth rate in Scotland has been steadily declining
and is expected to fall further. Average family sizes have already
fallen from just 2 children per woman born in the 1950s to 1.6 born
in 1975 and later.
They're taking our
jobs!
Racist groups tend to do well when unemployment is
high. There seems a simple logic to the theory that if there are
1,000 people out of work, then get rid of 1,000 foreigners. The
trouble with such a solution is that the economy doesn't work
like that. Economies do well when the population grows. This has
happened throughout history and all over the world.
Migrants often create new industries. Indian and Chinese
restaurants are a good examples of this. Old sectors, such as corner
shops can also be given a new lease of life.
In Scotland unemployment is low (3.8% is the average
percentage across Scotland). In many areas the problem is a labour
shortage. Without migrants our building trade would collapse, our
catering and tourist trade would suffer and crops would go un-harvested.
The health service as we know it would fall apart.
It's not just that migrants do the jobs no one
else wants. One in three doctors are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The Asian community has many of the world's top
computer specialists. In the next eight years, Britain will need
up to half a million computer, construction and domestic workers.
Our economy and public service rely on recruiting skills from all
over the world. The tourist trade in Scotland needs to win foreign
visitors and we have to compete in the world for foreign investment
in our industry.
They keep pay low
Racists claim that if migrants didn't take jobs,
then employers would have to raise wage levels! A recent Home Office
study found that the opposite is the case.
Migrants tend to be better educated than white-British
born residents. 20% are graduates compared to 15% of the local population.
The new skills bring new opportunities. The study concluded that
" an increase in immigration of 1%… leads to a nearly 2% increase
in non-migrant wage".
They are a drain on taxes
Migrant workers actually give more than they take.
One reason for this is that most migrants are of working age. They
have finished school and are a long way from retirement. The Home
Office estimates that migrants contribute 10% more in revenue than
they receive in benefits.
Indeed if there were no foreign-born people in Britain,
taxes would need to rise by 1p in the £ or public services would
be cut. Similar research is found in Germany and the USA.
They bring crime
Right-wing groups play on fear of crime to paint foreigners
as the cause. The real root causes of crime are unemployment, poor
housing and lack of money.
It has always been the case that newcomers face the
poorest conditions and become the target for criminal gangs. Those
who arrive here through human traffickers are especially vulnerable
to exploitation. Some are forced into drugs and prostitution. But
it is the immigrant population who are the main victims of such
crimes.
They all head for Britain
Britain is a great place to live and work. The legacy
of the British Empire and the Commonwealth means that there are
communities all over the globe who have links to this country. Britain
is attractive to those who speak English. Nevertheless our tight
immigration controls mean that the UK is not the magnet for migrants
that racists would have us believe. In the European league table
for the number of asylum applications per head of population, Britain
is ninth.
The greatest burden when it comes to offering shelter
to refugees falls on the developing world, the neighbours to conflicts
and tyrannical regimes. Iran and Pakistan for example have taken
in 4 million Afghans.
Refugees tend to want to go home. Britain has seen
a return to Kosovo and more recently Afghanistan once conflict has
ended.
We're a soft touch
The UK gives asylum seekers less financial support
than other European countries. They are not allowed to work and
forced to rely on state support, set 30% below normal income support
They are not allowed to claim mainstream benefits.
An adult receives less than £40 a week.
They support terrorism
The worst accusation is that foreigners support terrorism.
The leaders of black and minority ethnic community and faith groups
have condemned recent terrorist attacks. Hundreds of Muslims were
killed in the 11th September atrocities.
Commitment to values of family and religious belief
is much stronger amongst black and minority ethnic people than amongst
white people. Asylum seekers are fleeing persecution and terror.
Black communities have much more to lose from international terrorism.
Since September 11th, assaults on black and ethnic people have increased.
We're losing our identity
The fear of change is a powerful force. Racist groups
claim we are losing our Scottish way of life, our traditions and
our culture. What does it mean to be Scottish? Throughout its history,
Scotland has absorbed foreign cultures. We are a mix of races and
have gained strength from outside ideas and influences.
Immigration in the last fifty years has brought new
and exciting cultures. International food, music, dance and theatre
have all benefited from a multi-cultural Scotland. A diverse community
and workplace strengthen society and the workplace.
International trade expands as we become more confident
of doing business around the world. Compared with regions across
the UK, Scotland has a good exporting record. The most creative,
dynamic and imaginative communities celebrate diversity,
Successful companies are those that learn from others
and take up new ideas. Inward looking narrow thinking communities
and companies become stale, dull and non-competitive. They lose
trade. People who want to get on won't stay. Bright young people
will move out. This is not the sort of future Scotland needs.
Not just race
Britain's male-dominated far-right groups also
feel under threat from women and the gay movement.
The far right despise homosexuality. David Copeland,
the Soho nail bomber, was a BNP supporter. He targeted black people
and gay men.
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fresh talent initiative
The First Minister Jack McConnell launched the Fresh
Talent Initiative with a statement to the Scottish Parliament on
25th February 2004.
Scotland's population is falling and it is declining
at a faster rate than anywhere else in Europe.
- By 2009 Scotland's population will fall below the 5 million
level.
- By 2027 there could be a quarter of a million fewer people of
working age in Scotland.
- The key aims of the Fresh Talent Initiative are:
- To retain home-grown talent within Scotland,
- To encourage Scots who have moved away to come back to live
and work in Scotland,
- And to attract people who are completely new to Scotland- from
the rest of the UK, from the EU and from further afield.
Speaking at the 2004 STUC Congress, the First Minister
used his keynote speech to drive home the need to encourage greater
immigration to Scotland and fight racism against refugees and asylum
seekers. He said,
"Welcoming new people to Scotland does not threaten
Scots, their jobs or their way of life. New talent will help us
grow the economy, create new jobs and give us the full employment
that is already within our grasp".
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a warm scottish welcome
The Scottish economy relies on a thriving tourist
trade. The tourism industry depends upon attracting visitors. But
those with a different coloured skin or a strange name don't
always get the warm welcome they deserve.
We are a global society and rely on international
trade. It was the Irish who built our hospitals after the war; Asian
doctors and Afro-Caribbean nurses cared for our patients. We now
depend upon carers from the Philippines and cleaners from all over
the world for the maintenance of our health service. It is the racists
who are the odd ones out. For Scotland to thrive we need a more
diverse and welcoming society. There is no room for racists in Scotland,
let's give them the cold-shoulder.
Stop the far right
How can UNISON and UNISON members stop far right groups
spreading their hatred in Scottish workplaces and communities?
Tell the truth
The lies spread by far right groups must be answered.
This booklet tackles a few of the main myths.
Recruit and organise
Bad employers will exploit workers who lack trade
union support and who do not know their employment rights. The answer
is not to blame the workers but to recruit and organise them. UNISON
Scotland's Overseas Nurses Network is a classic example of
how to recruit and organise.
Fight racism
Racism has no place in workplaces and communities
across Scotland. UNISON must champion victims of discrimination.
We should also press employers to adopt recruitment and promotion
practices that treat everyone equally.
Trade Unions are working to establish black worker
self-organised support groups. When racism occurs it must be challenged.
UNISON branches should ensure that their employer meets their obligations
under the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000).
Get involved
Racism flourishes when it is unchallenged. please
use the information in this booklet to attack racism.
There are many organisations working hard to combat
racism as well as UNISON. They would welcome your support
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QUIZ - Click on an answer....
1. When did the first black international football
player play in Britain?
(a) 1888
(b) 1874
(c) 1912
(d) 1881
2. In what year did it become illegal to discriminate
against someone on the grounds of race?
(a) 1928
(b) 1976
(c) 1919
(d) 1995
3. In 1998, a Scottish waiter was killed in Wishaw.
What was his name?
(a) Armarit Talvin
Singh
(b) Mohammed Iqbal
(c) Surjit Singh
Chhoker
(d) Harbanjan Singh
4. Which of the following are illegal immigrants?
(a) Asylum seekers
(b) Refugees
(c) Both refugees
and asylum seekers
(d) Tourists who
miss their flight
5. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) Scottish population
figures are rising.
(b) The number leaving
Scotland is greater than the number arriving.
(c) Scottish population
figures are stable.
(d) The number
of people leaving Scotland is lower than the number arriving.
6. What proportion of asylum claims are judged
by the courts to be false?
(a) 80%
(b) 40%
(c) 20%
(d) 10%
7.Unemployment rates in Scotland are highest among
which of the following?
(a) Ex-offenders
(b) School leavers
(c) Ethnic minority
women
(d) Over 50's
8. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) Asylum seekers
steal Scottish jobs.
(b) In 1992 Keith
Vaz became the first Asian MP.
(c) Michael Howard's
parents were immigrants.
(d) Mohammed Ali's
ancestors came from County Mayo in Ireland
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Spot the difference - click one of the answers....
1. In their manifesto who says:
" Britain is full. Immigration is out of control.
British residents are justifiably resentful. They feel pushed out
of public services which they have paid for and cheated when asylum
seekers seem to be receiving favourable treatment".
UKIP
or BNP?
2. In their manifesto who says:
"We will be an ethnic minority in our own country
in sixty years. To ensure that does not happen and that British
people retain their homeland identity, we call for an immediate
halt to all further immigration".
UKIP
or BNP?
3. In their manifesto who says:
" We are opposed to the single European Currency and
support the overwhelming majority of the British people in their
desire to keep the Pound and our traditional weights and measures.
Accordingly we stand for British withdrawal from the EU".
UKIP
or BNP?
4. In their manifesto who says:
"We will never abolish the Pound for the Euro".
UKIP
or BNP?
5. In their manifesto who says:
" If illegal immigrants have arrived here from another
‘safe' country such as France, we will be prepared to
send them back".
UKIP
or BNP?
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terms used and misused
Terms can often confuse. The media hardly helps explain
the true picture. Descriptions of different groups are often mixed
up to mislead. So here is a brief glossary.
- Migrants -
Those who come to the UK mainly for work, intending to stay at
least a year.
- Immigrants -
Those who come in order to settle.
- Asylum Seekers -
Those who apply for protection under the United Nations Convention
on the Status of Refugees. They are people fleeing persecution
from their home countries.
- Refugees -
Those who have been granted asylum. The term tends to attract
public support. Images of people fleeing torture and war touch
our hearts.
- Economic Migrants -
Those seeking a better life abroad. Just as many Scots did - emigrating
to America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and almost
everywhere else!
- Exchange Workers -
There are special schemes, where exchanges are organised so that
experiences can be gained from another country.
- Foreign Students -
The education system in Scotland has long attracted many students
from abroad. They can work providing it doesn't exceed more
than 20 hours per week and doesn't interfere with their studies.
- Posted Workers -
These are non-European nationals who work for European companies
who are ‘posted' to work in the UK or another European
country.
- Seasonal Agriculture Workers -
Many farms across the length and breadth of Scotland rely on seasonal
workers from abroad. Such workers are expected to leave at the
end of three months or by 30 November each year.
- Work Permits -
These give permission to UK employers to recruit named people
from a country outside of Europe. The worker must remain in that
employment for no more than five years.
- European Nationals -
That's us by the way! The media often call European workers,
migrants and even asylum seekers! Like us, workers across Europe
have the freedom to travel and work within the European Union.
This freedom of movement is essential to our economy. Some 70%
of Scottish exports go to Europe. Many of our leading firms are
part of European companies. Thousands of Scottish workers benefit
from these rights.
- Holiday Workers
People on holiday in Scotland have some limited rights to work
whilst they are here. There are tight restrictions. Australian
bar workers are often amongst this group.
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for more information
UNISON Scotland
UNISON House
14 West Campbell Street
Glasgow G2 6RX
www.unison-scotland.org.uk
STUC
333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow G3 6NG
www.stuc.org.uk
Show Racism the Red Card
Fountain House
1-3 Woodside Crescent
Glasgow G3 7UJ
www.srtrc.org
One Workplace Many Rights
www.oneworkplace.co.uk
One Scotland Many Cultures
www.onescotland.com
New Scots
Attracting Fresh Talent to Meet the Challenges of Growth
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/afftm-00.asp.
Searchlight
International anti-fascist magazine
PO Box 1576
Ilford IG5 ONG
www.searchlightmagazine.org.uk
Anti-Nazi League
www.anl.org.uk
Commission for Racial Equality (Scotland)
The Tun
12 Jackson's Entry
(off Holyrood Road)
Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
www.cre.gov.uk/scotland
Unite Against Fascism
PO BOX 36871
London WCIX 9XT
www.uaf.org.uk
Scottish Refugee Council
5 Cadogan Square
Glasgow G2 7PH
www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Designed and Published by UNISONScotland. 14 W
Campbell St. Glasgow G2 6RX. www.unison-scotland.org.uk.
May2005/2-Sco/5,000. Printed by Hampden Advertising,
73 Robertson Street , Glasgow G2 8QD
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