How the UK Government Fuels Anti-Migrant Rhetoric in the Media

By Charlotte Smith -

More than a year after the wave of asylum hotel protests in 2024, anti-immigration rhetoric remains a weapon of choice for the government, the media, and the forces of racism in Britain. The relentless demonisation of migrants by those in power continues to fuel protests, bitter divisions, and a growing sense of disconnection within local communities.

Asylum seekers are being used again by the British government, with the help of the media, as a distraction from the actual crises facing this country - crises caused by the very government that runs it. As Jeremy Corbyn has recently said on social media, “Scapegoating vulnerable people has always been a deliberate ploy by the government to distract from its own domestic failures. We are witnessing the demonisation of vulnerable people, to the grave detriment of us all.”

The reality is that around 96% of immigrants arrive in the UK through legal routes, yet the narrative is dominated by the idea that illegal migration represents the majority of arrivals. This consistent focus on the illegality of small boat crossings distorts the fact that Britain is heavily reliant on migration. There are never-ending shortages in the NHS, social care and building vacancies, as well as across many industries which face skills gaps; therefore, migration has long been essential for the UK economy. Our high streets are desolate, the cost of living is constantly on the rise and working-class communities are once again neglected by the government. Although politicians are entirely aware of these issues, they often choose anti-immigration rhetoric over addressing their failures. 

This toxic narrative has deep consequences for ethnic minorities. A persistent myth, pushed by sections of the media and exploited by politicians, is that asylum seekers in hotels are enjoying “luxury” treatment. A new study by the Helen Bamber Foundation into ‘The Impact of hotel accommodation on asylum seekers' mental health’, has found reports of lack of safety, autonomy, social isolation and a hugely detrimental impact on mental health for children and families, many of whom are carrying the trauma of past experiences.

For communities that feel personally affected by the housing of asylum seekers in local hotels, the promise of rehousing is often presented by the government as a simple solution; however, this is another level of political dishonesty. Britain's working-class communities have been neglected for decades through the destruction of industries, social housing and public services. Therefore, it’s no wonder that people within these communities feel forgotten, and politicians can hand them the easy target: migrants. Politicians know this, yet continue to offer false promises, scapegoating migrants rather than confronting their own failures to fix the broken housing system.

The public misconception about asylum seekers is deeply affected by this rhetoric. When journalist Anoosh Chakelian took to the streets at the Epping hotel protests, she spoke with anti-migrant protesters and often got this response; “They’re getting something for nothing - they’re not giving anything back”. 

Asylum seekers in the UK are barred from working under legislation introduced during Tony Blair’s government, an outdated law that no longer reflects today’s realities. For people forced to flee their homes, the inability to earn a living is not a “luxury,” but a further injustice. Most asylum seekers want to work, to contribute, and to rebuild their lives. Instead, the ban creates two damaging outcomes. It feeds the stereotype that asylum seekers are dependent and a burden to the state, and also dangerously pushes some into the shadow economy, where they are vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe working conditions. With asylum seekers denied the chance to earn, they are left reliant on government-provided accommodation, often in unsuitable hotel settings. 

This further fuels resentment in local communities, who are rarely told the truth: that the crisis stems not from migration, but from decades of underinvestment in social housing and infrastructure.

Violence against women and girls is increasingly being used as a scapegoat to fuel further hatred towards migrants. The danger of misinformation in the media relating to the Southport attacks and communities in Epping now sows division within communities.

Farage and his supporters have attempted to justify their protests under the banner of “protecting our women”. However, the irony of this could not be starker.

Over a year ago, the Southport attacks were fuelled by racial abuse directed at minority communities living in hotels, yet those leading the charge claimed to be standing up for women’s safety. A third of convicted British male rioters had previous convictions for domestic violence, yet women are meant to feel protected by these men with proven histories of violence? 

This exposes a glaring double standard. When the perpetrator of a sexual offence is a white British man, there is no comparable outcry, no mass protests, and no violent retaliation. Yet when an attack can be framed, however inaccurately, as the work of migrants, the far-right takes it as an opportunity to once again scapegoat migrants for the problem of misogyny. 

The hypocrisy is made worse by the government’s own inaction. In July 2024, violence against women and girls was officially declared a national emergency and epidemic. Yet more than a year later, little has been done to address it. The 2025 Spending Review prioritised countless other areas over the long-term investment urgently needed to tackle this crisis.

In this vacuum, far-right groups have been able to weaponise violence against women to stir up fear and xenophobia from online into local communities. Despite there being no credible evidence that migrant men pose a heightened danger to women, they recycle the baseless narrative, as it serves both a political and cultural purpose. Hate towards migrants is designed as protection for women, but racism, intimidation and violence do not keep women safe. Instead, it distracts from the root issue of misogyny fuelling the anti-migrant rhetoric. 

Until society stops scapegoating migrants and instead starts addressing the crises caused by political neglect, misogyny and racism, communities will remain divided. If we are to rebuild trust and community in Britain, we must reject scapegoating, break down anti-migrant rhetoric by the government and media and stand in solidarity with those who are targeted.