Answers to common lies and myths published by the BNP in their leaflets

A BNP leaflet comes through the door. It makes wonderful promises to improve everyone's life in your neighbourhood, and wants only one thing in return. For you, like them, to use race and blame when you decide which cross to put on the ballot paper.

Here we give you the simple truth and facts behind the BNP statements on their campaign literature. If you have anymore questions you would like a factual answer to in relation BNP claims, just e-mail us at info@searchlightcymru.org.uk and we will update the list as we go along.

Blame: ‘The BNP would put an end to the flow of cheap migrant workers which is flooding this country and costing us jobs. We would fine companies employing them'.
Fact: Migrant workers are people who move to another country to work. Generally people can move within the EU and that is why so many British people retire to live in countries such as Spain, France, Bulgaria and Portugal.

Migrant workers should not be confused with illegal immigrants who are people who do not have permission to live here.

Where do they come from?

Migrant workers come from many countries across the world, but mainly from within Europe. Recently more countries have joined the European Union (EU) including Poland.

Why have migrant workers come to Wales?

Migrant workers move to areas where there are jobs, cheap rented housing and good transport links between home and work. The UK has an ageing population and so migrant workers are needed to ensure there are enough people to fill all jobs. Migrant labour is making a positive contribution to Wales, filling vacancies in farming and manufacturing as well as taking up higher skilled jobs such as engineering and healthcare.

Why do employers recruit people from abroad?

For some employers, the problem is finding people with the right skills, such as doctors and dentists. For those recruiting to low skilled and low paid jobs, such as in factories and on farms, the problem has been finding enough people, to do the work. So when some employers cannot fill vacancies with local people they take on migrant workers.

What rights do migrant workers have when they are here? Do they just come for benefits?

Migrant workers pay taxes when they work in the UK and so are entitled to the same services as others in the community. They are also entitled to the same employment rights such as minimum wage and holidays as other workers.

Some European migrant workers can apply for social security benefits; although most have to be in continuous employment for at least 12 months before they are entitled to apply for any benefits or housing assistance. Migrant workers from outside Europe, who are here on work permits, are generally not entitled to such benefits. According to the very latest national statistics, less than 3% of migrant workers claim any out of work benefit.

It is estimated that many millions of pounds are contributed to the UK economy by European migrant workers alone, above what they claim in public services.

How can I welcome and support migrant workers?

Welcome new neighbours when they move in, offer support and provide information such as which day the bins are emptied, where the library and the council offices are and find out if there is any other information they need to know.

What are the challenges for public services?

Many public services rely on migrant workers to fill jobs which could not otherwise be filled, for instance the health service rely on doctors and nurses from overseas. For many workers their time spent in Britain and in Wales can be very positive and enjoyable. However, for others the experience can be less positive, as they are sometimes treated badly by employers, landlords or members of the public.

Blame: Trade Unions turn a blind eye to workers losing their jobs to lower paid migrant workers in Wales.
Fact: Where trade unions have seen this (very) rare practice, they have acted decisively. The Irish Ferries Dispute in December 2006 which resulted in mass protests across Welsh was led by trade unionists. They were protesting an employer who wanted to undercut British and Irish workers and replace them with Baltic migrant workers on less than the Irish Minimum Wage. The Baltic trade unions were fully supportive of the Irish and UK trade unions, 50,000 workers marched in Dublin and mass protests in Holyhead and Pembroke Dock were led by the Wales TUC. You see the difference between us and the BNP is whilst we support Welsh Workers, we don't play the blame game on migrant workers who are being exploited. Big, big difference. And no the BNP, nor their invisible trade union front, Solidarity, did not offer any support (much less solidarity) to workers in the Irish Ferries dispute.

Blame: Islam is responsible for the supply of drugs in the UK.
Fact: The BNP has produced no evidence at any time that any religion is responsible for the importation of drugs into the UK. In fact there is no evidence other than that hardened criminals are solely responsible. Drugs come into the UK from all over the world and from every continent.

Blame: Asylum Seekers get to the top of the housing ladder.
Fact: Asylum seekers are housed according to a completely different government system of support to British residents and are not entitled to council housing tenancy or housing benefit.

Previously, when asylum seekers were dispersed by the British Government, Councils housed them with private landlords. They were not given council housing. The money to accommodate them was given by Central government. It did not come from local taxes.

Those given refugee status do have the right to live and work in the UK. They can also apply for social or council housing. However their application is treated exactly the same as everyone else and is assessed under a range of criteria to do with their family and personal circumstances.

Blame: Almost all Asylum seekers are bogus. "The most cautious estimate is 50,000 bogus asylum seekers and illegals a year slipping into Britain" (The Sun 29-9-2003)
Fact: There were 84,130 asylum applications made in 2002 in the UK, one of the highest on record, yet 48% or nearly half of all asylum claimants in 2002 were recognised as having the legitimate right to remain in this country.

According to Home Office statistics (published May 22 2003) 84,130 asylum applications were made in 2002. Some 10% of applicants were granted refugee status with a further 24 percent of individuals being granted Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR). A further 14% were later granted the right to remain after appeals were made against an initial negative decision.

An application for protection can be genuinely made and still not succeed in law - and the law is quite narrow. This is not to overlook or ignore the reality of false claims for asylum. However, the asylum system is far from the easiest route of entry for those that are not in need of protection. Britain's need for labour migrants has lead to other legal avenues for immigrants under the managed migration policy; as a result the incentive to abuse the system is waning.

Blame: ‘Asylum Seekers come here and get everything handed to them on a plate. From free TV's to cheques for cars they get it all. The BNP says enough is enough. Its time to British people first'.
Fact: No migrants, asylum-seekers or refugees are given free phones, TVs, cars, cookers, washing machines or any household items. This is one of the biggest and most common myths and lies. If an asylum seeker has a mobile phone, he or she has probably saved for it (they are now cheap) as an essential means of communicating with friends, family or others. An Asylum Seeker over 25 gets just £39.34 a week. Any support costs are paid in full by Central Government not the Council. Asylum Seekers are banned from working so are forced to live on this benefit. There are fewer than 2,500 people seeking asylum in Wales - that's less than 0.1% of the total population and around 10,000 refugees. Most asylum seekers and refugees live in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, with a small number living in Wrexham and a handful of people outside these areas. If all the refugees and asylum seekers in Wales sat in the Millennium Stadium, they would only fill the first 16 rows. If anyone from the BNP claims that migrant workers, asylum seekers or refugees get free phones, cars or washing machines, ask for proof. You won't get it.

Blame: Why are asylum seekers and refugees coming to Wales?
Fact: Refugees and asylum seekers arrive in Wales in search of a place of safety from persecution. This is reflected in the countries of origin of the highest numbers of asylum seekers in Wales - Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Turkey - all countries with poor human rights records or places where war and conflict is on-going. The 1951 Refugee Convention guarantees everybody the right to apply for asylum and has saved millions of lives. Most asylum seekers do not come to Britain - they stay in the first safe country they reach or are internally displaced within their own country. The vast majority of refugees can be found in the developing world, accounting for 72% of the world's estimated 12 million refugees between 1992 and 2001. Research shows that most asylum seekers who do come to the UK have little choice in the matter - they are dependent on whoever arranges their escape. For those who do have a choice, the main reasons are: some knowledge of English, having relatives or friends living in the country and a belief that the UK is a safe, tolerant and democratic society. The UK, one of the richest countries in the world is home to just 3% of the world's refugees.

Blame: Gypsies and Travellers are scroungers and criminals.
Fact: Gypsies and Travellers pay tax and rent and the Police in Wales say they are no more likely to commit crime than anyone else. That fact is that Gypsies and Travellers are a race of people with their own unique history and culture. However, as a group and as individuals they often face extreme discrimination and racism. Alongside Jews, the Nazi's targeted Gypsies and Travellers and shipped hundreds of thousands to their deaths in concentration camps. Unfortunately, some mainstream political parties, including in Wales, have been guilty of appalling double standards when it has come to supporting the needs of travellers and gypsies in the UK which the BNP has been only too happy to feed into.

Blame: The BNP says no to anymore mosques. We will oppose any planning applications for mosques. These buildings are unsightly and the noise and parking problems they create make life a misery for residents.
Fact: A mosque is no more unsightly, noisy and difficult to park in than a church. However, the BNP won't ban churches because they presume that Christianity is a white, British religion. It is not about planning or noise, just old fashioned racism.

Blame: Searchlight Cymru and others turn a blind eye when migrant workers, Muslims and asylum seekers commit crimes.
Fact: No we don't. Everyone is equal before the law. If you murder someone, whoever you are then you should be locked up. But why does the BNP and others pre-suppose that most criminals are from overseas? There is absolutely never evidence behind it other than to create fear in your community. Is it also because if you commit a crime the mass media only label you by your religion, sexuality or colour if you are in a minority such as a Muslim or being black? You will never hear talk of ‘convicted British, white, heterosexual, Christian extremist terrorist bombers' such as the BNP's Tony Lecomber, Robert Cottage or David Copeland. That's partially because some parts of the media and BNP are utterly racist to the core, but also because the BNP houses convicted British, white, heterosexual, Christian extremist terrorist bombers and in the case of Robert Cottage refused to help the police investigation.

References: With grateful thanks to the following organisations for using some of their online expertise in this question and answer guide;

• Humber Improvement Partnership (migrant workers. Your questions answered)
• Croeso project (CEHR)
• Northamptonshire County Council (myths and facts on housing)
• Southampton County Council (key myths on asylum seekers)
• Sheffield City of Welcome
• Wales TUC Cymru (facts about migrant workers)
• BNP Wrexham election leaflet

Searchlight Cymru