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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