A local newspaper Facebook group becomes a hunt the hotel migrant for Newport’s knuckle draggers and some naive people join in the speculation. Our local newspaper refuses to take the thread down and the comments remain, challenged but unregulated by the newspaper. Is clickbait more important than establishing the facts?
Another Facebook group mistakes a group of Scottish kids in Newbridge for migrants in a scout activity camp after circulating a video of them getting on a bus! The Scout movement commented
“We are aware of a racially aggravated incident targeting under-18s who were leaving after visiting our activity centre”
Constant social media conspiracies about ‘boats’, fake facts about flags, attacks on reputable organisations like RNLI. Men in balaclavas blocking roads, wearing face coverings, complaining about ‘two tier policing’, stopping the wrong sort of boats (commercial ferries!) in Channel ports.
This was the social media world of south Wales and Britain in the summer holidays of 2025 and 2026. Infected by racism, obsessed with small boats and ridiculous conspiracies about being invaded. This has gone way beyond a normal concern about illegal immigration. It ignores the fact that our unjust society is not caused by a few refugees but by the rich and powerful including politicians, newspaper and media owners who are so patriotic they do not pay tax in this country. The other obsession is ‘safety for women and girls’ while completely ignoring the domestic abusers heading their protests and sexual predators, mainly white, and perpetrators of such crimes in their own neighbourhoods.
This narrative has been promoted by the far right including Reform who have voted against all border security measures and crime prevention against women and girls in the House of Commons.
Reform and Restore are a cover for the far right and hardcore conservatives to achieve power. Most of them are failed ex-Tories and now they are masquerading as the worst form of populist. It is clear this is happening in Newport too. Fortunately, cracks are appearing in Reform as they pander to foreign interests, boat crossings are falling and their far right allies are resorting to ever more desperate tactics.
Farage and co lied to the country about Brexit and he is lying about border security. Be aware and vigilant the racists are at the gate!