Tackling Political Taboos - Immigration

We often watch with admiration documentary programmes about the migration of birds. At the same time we are very likely to accept politics of fear and rejection when it comes to migrants who are coming to the UK - be it because they are trying to avoid persecution and abuse, poverty and discrimination, or because they want to better their education and economic situation.

Most politicians tend to steer clear of any discourse supporting migrants in the run up to elections.  Migrants are unable to vote in the General Election and their voices don't seem to count.

I'd like to break the cycle on this issue. I am a migrant myself. A migrant who chose to make the UK my home because its values of human rights, equality, and fairness really resonated with me.  

The UK was among the first countries in the world to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If it were not for Winston Churchill, we would not have a Human Rights Act. 

The current politics of fear when it comes to migrants is not benefiting anyone and is hitting these values hard. Values the UK has treasured since the Magna Carta was agreed in 1215.

We are being told to blame migrants for driving down wages, while it is politicians who refuse to raise the impossible minimum wage of 6.50 to 9.15 in London and 7.85 in the rest of the UK (somebody please tell David Cameron what the living wage is, he seemed slightly confused the other day when talking to young people on Radio 1).  

We are being told to blame migrants for coming to the UK and robbing the welfare system, while it is politicians who have destroyed the welfare system and have transformed it into a degrading, inhumane process for everybody.

We are being told to blame migrants for lack of school places and problems with the NHS, while it is politicians from current major parties who have signed up to increased austerity measures, cutting education and healthcare budgets and pushing the two further into privatisation.

All this time, thousands of migrants are dying in an attempt to reach a tiny Sicilian island that has the best odds for permanent asylum in the European Union. Dying, because Fortress Europe is raising its walls high against human rights.

As we are all gearing up for the General election in May, I'd like to urge you to think about the values we have treasured in this country for nearly 800 years. Values of freedom, dignity, and justice. We can bring them back into the heart of politics and every day life.

The future is in our hands! Vote for change!