Help me bat back with facts

[TeabySea]

An elderly relative keeps posting things by (apologies for this) Nigel Farage about asylum seekers. Mostly about the funding they're getting for mobile phones.

Is there any credible source for the info? And what do I say to rebut this? Just saying "NF is a huge turd and waste of skin" won't cut it. I need comparison to spending on pensions, heating for the elderly and so forth.
I did try to search government stats and pie charts but struggling to find current expenditure.

fullfact.org/online/asylum-seeker-free-iphone/ fullfact.org/online/asylum-seeker-free-iphone/]]]]

oh why bother
why give it all air time just say ok and change the subject
people who like blaming everything on those who have least feed off attention
so don't give it

Don’t bother trying to reason someone out of their emotions, it won’t work.

You need to have the conversation with them on an emotional level. Ask questions. What do they think has happened to make so many people want to come to the UK? How has the UK changed over time? How does it make them feel to hear about asylum seekers? What do they think asylum seekers want and have to offer from being here? What else needs to happen to fix the UK, beyond asylum seekers? What do they wish people would understand about their perspective?

You can’t berate someone out of their opinions, they will just retreat and get more isolated and vulnerable to misinformation. You have to walk alongside them unfortunately, without judgement. And create situations (in life or in conversations) where they can expand their perspective in their own time. It’s not always successful, but it’s your best shot.

Little bit of info here

www.gov.uk/asylum-support/what-youll-get

This is excellent advice

I think that's part of it.

We don't live anywhere near each other, and aren't super close.

I just wish they'd educate themselves, usually they're more informed.

It's a real thing, the government framework is RM6261 and it was awarded to BT on the 19th March 2024. Total contract value is £528,000 over 2 years.

Some details can be found here: https://www.stotles.com/explore/notices/348d6ead-baae-4679-bfea-0823cc119b40/rm6261-sim-cards

Not easy to find details as it's not something the Home Office wants the general public to know about.

Immigrants and asylum seekers who are detained are allowed access to limited mobile phones. That’s it.

Detained individuals
One of the following:

• access to their own personal mobile phone without a camera, recording and internet facilities (subject to restrictions explained later in this instruction)
• a mobile phone issued by the centre that has no access to a camera, recording and internet facilities
• a mobile phone issued by the centre that has no access to a camera function but has limited internet functions. The centre can only operate these mobile phones through a secure wireless network approved by the Home Office

www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-and-cameras-in-immigration-removal-centres/mobile-phones-and-cameras-in-immigration-removal-centres-accessible-version