We believe the way some media are covering the UK government’s proposed migration bill and the language being used by some politicians is linked to the way migrants are treated when they come to the UK and other European countries.  

We are against the proposed bill as it limits access to protection for those in need and breaches the UK obligations under the Refugee Convention. Further, we are witnessing how discriminatory narratives by politicians are reproduced and spread by unprofessional media reporting, impacting how we all think about migrants and the policies on which politicians decide.

Why Language Matters 

Politicians and journalists have a lot of influence on public opinion, because their status allows their words to reach many people. Therefore, the language they use to describe a community can affect how that community is viewed by society. 

The words and stories used by politicians and the media influence public views and feelings about migrant communities living in the UK. 

We feel that the way the Refugee Ban Bill has been proposed and discussed fuels hatred and division, as some media and politicians are using familiar stereotypes of migrants to justify a bill that is both cruel and illegal.  

Our media monitoring shows how some politicians and media personalities exploit the idea of freedom of speech to vilify migrant communities, especially those from Muslim-majority countries.  

Around 45 percent of all anti-Muslim content identified by GTTO monitors in European media over the past two years has anti-migrant elements 

Words like, “crime”, “criminality”, “no-go areas”, “gangs”, “rape”, “the rape of children”, “parallel society”, “violence”, “honour violence”, “danger”, “threat”, “terrorism” and “invasion” are increasingly used to describe Muslim communities.  

The repeated use of these words over time can influence how people think about migrant communities, encouraging the belief there is an “us” who should be against “them.” 

Not only does this divide our society but it negatively impacts individuals' mental health and wellbeing. And in some cases such words can lead to violence against migrant communities. 

The Home Office’s own Equality Impact Assessment admits that its highly controversial Rwanda deportation policy is likely to cause indirect discrimination against Muslims:   

“[This policy] may indirectly have a greater impact on those of Muslim faith. However, we consider that any disadvantage is justified on the basis that it is a proportionate means of achieving the policy’s legitimate aim to deter individuals from making such perilous journeys.” 

#GetTheBillOut

Challenging Anti-Migrant Narratives in the Media 

#GetTheBillOut Insta Live Series 

Our #GetTheBillOut Insta live series highlights why words and stories matter through interviews with experts from the field of human rights, media, and those with lived experience of migration. We will look at how hate speech in the media can spread online and through our  societies impacting individuals' mental health and wellbeing.  

Head to Instagram to find our Interviews:

1. Fizza Qureshi, the CEO of the Migrants’ Rights Network, Co-Chair of the3million's Board of Directors, on the board of Migrants at Work and on the honorary advisory committee for the Black Europeans. Fizza is an expert on immigration, and human rights. This Insta Live took place on 30th March, watch here.

2. Ake Achi, Founding Chief Executive of Migrants At Work, and Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Black Europeans. This Insta Live took place on Thursday 20th April, watch here.

3. Amanda Morris, Community Liaison Officer with Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring. She has a background in linguistics and sociology, holding an MA in Applied Japanese Linguistics and another in Islam in Britain. This Insta Live will take place on Tuesday 16th May at 6:30pm.

In an interview with former Sun editor, Kelvin MacKenzie, on how the UK government should deal with the “migrant crisis”, the GB News presenter allowed Mackenzie to express explicit incitement to violence.

“If Rishi Sunak sent the SAS to just shoot one people smuggler dead, do you think he would win the next election?” 

'Well I would be more inclined if he shot 12 or 20 dead but you're quite right, it would be great, it would be fantastic”  

“To be clear, we’re not advocating violence.” 

“I am!” 

The GB News Twitter account led with this abhorrent quote in their tweet caption of the video, inciting their Twitter audience to violence..

Media Examples

Conservative MP, Joy Morrissey, tweeted a photograph of refugees arriving in the UK superimposed on the image were the words “I’ve voted to stop the boats”. In the tweet caption, she wrote “It’s this country and government who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs!” framing refugees as criminals.