The Daily Mail Promotes UK 'No-Go-Areas’ Myth

On June 4th, the Daily Mail published an article with the headline: ‘British towns that are no-go areas for white people: Muslim author's study of mosques reveals children “attacked for being white”, parents making families live under Taliban-like rules and women who can't leave home without permission’. The piece was based on a book called Among The Mosques: A Journey Across Muslim Britain, written by author and political advisor Ed Husain. 

Husain and the Daily Mail claim that there are several ‘no-go areas’ in the UK, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Blackburn as well as Didsbury, whose inclusion received particular critique online. Many were quick to point out that Didsbury is a predominantly white area and so the accusation that it is a ‘no-go area’ for white people seems unfounded. Moreover, the Daily Mail itself just last month claimed that Didsbury is “a posh and leafy Manchester suburb [which] has been named as the most popular place for buyers actively looking for their new home”. The two claims are very much contrasting which begs the question of who is actually fact-checking these articles. 

Paul Ellis, president of the Dewsbury (another town branded by Husain as a ‘no-go area’) Chamber of Trade told the Yorkshire Post:

“The media needs to lay off towns like Dewsbury. While people like Ed Husain, who has never lived here, gets to publish his book and the Daily Mail gets a headline, people in other parts of the country read it and must think God knows what about the North, despite having never been here. Towns like Dewsbury have some of the friendliest people you'll meet. I have no problem promoting it and we'd love for Daily Mail reporters to come to Dewsbury and see the town properly.” 

"In the first few days of lockdown, we had people from the local mosques contacting people at the nearby churches to see if there were any people in their parish who needed food parcels or shopping done for them" – he continued. 

It is clear that there is a big disparity between how Husain and the Daily Mail reported on the Muslim communities in these different towns and cities, and how people who live there experience it. 

This key element of differing perspectives is exactly what is lacking in the Daily Mail article. The issue is not reviewing the book itself; in fact, several outlets in the UK ran pieces about the book with both positive and negative reviews. The Times praised the book, and The Economist felt that Husain “makes a compelling case". 

On the other hand, reviewing for the Literary Review, Sameer Rahim stated that “it is, by some distance, the worst book I have reviewed in nearly 20 years as a critic – at times laughable, at others frankly sinister”.

In contract to the Daily Mail, however, none of these reviews used some of books’ content to run a list of “no-go areas for white people”. Such framing is extremely troublesome and dangerous, and perpetuates Islamophobic tropes and narratives. Actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter Adil Ray OBE explained on Twitter:

“These are complete and utter lies designed to do nothing but divide. The damage this does to all of us is devastating. It’s shameful, disgusting and a national embarrassment. Many are trying to bring us together, yet those with the largest platforms spread vile, dangerous hate.”

The term “no-go area” has been used in various countries, often in right-wing circles, when talking about neighborhoods with a high percentage of often Muslim migrants. There are strong Islamophobic connotations with the term and the narrative uses a clear “us versus them” frame. Shaista Aziz, Labour Party politician and councilor for Rose Hill and Iffley in Oxford City Council, responded to the article on Twitter stating: “The British towns that are “no-go” areas for white people is a recycled “story” that does the rounds every few years and here we are again. This dangerous, hateful, trash is being recycled at a time when Islamophobia, racism, and denial of racism is off the scale.”

The Media Diversity Institute, Get The Trolls Out! lead partner operating in the UK, has submitted a complaint to the Daily Mail for unethical reporting.