It’s not bigotry to worry about migration – the latest figures tell a complex story | Larry Elliott
GuardianDEC 13 2024
UK: Government Launches Anti-Migration Ad Campaign in Iraq
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Above: The Houses of Parliament on Sept. 26, 2014 in London, England. Image copyright: Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The Home Office initiated a digital advertising campaign in Iraq's Kurdistan region on Tuesday, featuring testimonials from migrants who attempted dangerous Channel crossings. The move expands on similar campaigns previously launched in Vietnam and Albania.
The campaign includes imagery of destroyed dinghies and testimonials from trafficking victims. One ad shows a destroyed boat and a witness account stating "people disappeared into the sea," while another testimony states: "I was promised a well-paid job, instead I was a slave."
Recent data shows that 2.7K migrants crossed the Channel so far this year, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. Total Channel crossings in 2024 reached 36.8K, up from 29.4K in 2023 and down from a high of 45.8K in 2022.
The Spin
Left narrative
This advertising campaign represents a crucial step in dismantling criminal smuggling networks and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation, while enhanced bilateral partnerships will help secure borders and stem dangerous Channel crossings. The UK will continue to build on its warm relationship with Iraq as part of the government's wider commitment to finally lower illegal migration.
Right narrative
Starmer's border policies are failing to address the ongoing crisis in the English Channel. While pledging unwavering support to defend Ukraine's borders, he seems to neglect the glaring issue at home, where over 25K migrants have crossed since he became Prime Minister. His lack of a strong deterrent is undermining national security and raises serious questions about his priorities as leader.
