SINCE the introduction of the Tory Asylum and Immigration Act in 1996, numerous forces have helped to whip up racism against asylum seekers in Kent.
Whilst the National Front have attempted to make whatever gains they can from this, and plan to make Kent one of their key ares for their European election campaign, they have as yet been rather marginal to the rise of racism.
Key to fueling the rise of racism have been government policy, the local and national media, and council officials, both elected and • unelected.
The 1996 Act placed the burden for supporting asylum seekers away from central government, as the right to Income Support and Housing benefit was withdrawn for all those who didn't apply for asylum immediately on entering Britain.
A legal ruling meant that local authorities should have a responsibility to provide housing, food and other basic necessities under the National Assistance Act, and the Children's Act meant that much of this financial burden has been placed upon local authorities.
The local media have consistently spewed out rabid, anti-immigrant bile, blaming asylum seekers (and Eastern European Roma specifically) for everything from rises in crime, housing shortages to hospital waiting lists. One paper even carried a story by a local prostitute complaining that her business had suffered as she was being undercut by asylum seekers forced into prostitution. Kent Today organised a Phone-in poll to ask 'should the Romanian Gypsies be sent home?' and one newspaper may face prosecution for incitement to racial hatred after printing a letter suggesting that asylum seekers be thrown of the cliffs of Dover.
One of the few voices of dissent came from the Tory Councillor (and deputy leader of KCC) Keith Ferrin "Sadly there is so much hatred around, it wouldn't be at all difficult to staff a concentration camp for asylum seekers in Kent at the moment. Nurses, doctors, union officials, reporters and scores of ordinary people have all Key to passed by on the other fueling the rise side, spitting as they of racism have went, in the last two weeks. been government "If you are one of policy, the local and them / would like national media, you to know that I don't want your and council vote. I'm proud of the officials, job that we have done in Kent to deal with asylum seekers and if anyone doesn't like that, tough." While there may be contradictions in his position, this one Tory has done far more than most Labour councillors have been prepared to do in opposing racism. The National Front have been given a focus to mobilise around, picketing any temporary accommodation where asylum seekers have been dumped, and organising two national demonstrations (where they were far outnumbered by anti-fascists on each occasion).
Labour's proposals on immigration and asylum will greatly increase this sort of racism, since all housing benefit and income support will be stopped, placing the entire financial burden on local authorities.
At the same time asylum seekers will be dispersed throughout the country, where support services may be minimal, and they will be far more isolated.
Anti racists should not only oppose Labour's new proposals, but also demanding the abolition of the existing racist laws.
SwaN Close Campaigners marked the grim 5th Anniversary of the Immigration Prison at Campsfield, near Oxford with a protest outside the gates (below). Labour ministers have been at least as keen as their Tory predecessors to continue the practice of incarcerating asylum seekers in the privately-run jail, one of a national network holding thousands of innocent refugees.
-abou
John North reports from CIALIST
Oxford's Refugee DETANEES! Close