@middleeasteye: Barry Malone, a journalist and commentator, says that Reform UK has succeeded in dragging Britain’s political debate back towards migration, despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham initially focusing on the cost of living and Nigel Farage appearing politically weakened. He argues that Reform seized on the arrival of thousands of Moroccans in Ceuta to stoke fears of migration, with Zia Yusuf warning of “marauding migrants”. Although the incident was far removed from Britain, Malone says the strategy worked, pointing to Burnham’s subsequent appearance in Dover pledging to be “relentless” on small boat crossings. Malone says that the government and media repeatedly fall into the far right’s trap, even as official figures show crossings have fallen. He argues Britain is having the wrong conversation about migration, focusing on borders and trafficking gangs rather than the wars, oppression and instability that force people to flee. Malone concludes that Burnham should establish meaningful safe routes before pursuing harsher measures against irregular arrivals. Britain, he says, must stop treating asylum seekers as political pawns: “Taking in refugees isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be right.”

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Wednesday 09 September 2026 21:00:00 GMT