for wanting lots of fact based responses to immigration concerns?

[mynamechangemyrules]

I work with some ‘polite racists’ as I like to call them :) Friendly and essentially kind people on some levels, but who agree with Reform and Tommy Robinson on issues such as ‘immigration’ (inverted commas because they don’t see me having economically migrated to other countries as an issue and our (white, well spoken English language) immigrant manager is not considered a problem).

I need some fact based quick answers to common themes. I read the facts and figures and long form articles but then when they say things like eg crime is up in our area ‘because we’re near a migrant hotel’ or that ‘none of them are really asylum seekers’ or ‘why haven’t they come through a legal way’ etc I never seem to be equipped with a punchy one line to debunk their theories. One line facts and figures please!

Only 4% of immigration is "irregular" immigration. 96% is by legal routes.

Spending on asylum seekers represents 0.3% of government spending.
https://www.ein.org.uk/news/new-nao-overview-shows-home-office-total-spending-asylum-and-migration-2023-24#:~:text=A%20recent%20opinion%20poll%20by,cent%20of%20total%20government%20spending.

Asylum seekers are not given phones, ipads etc by the government. There are some charities that give refurbished phones.
https://fullfact.org/immigration/former-employee-hotel-asylum-support-mobile-phones/#:~:text=Asylum%20support%20from%20the%20government%20does%20not%20usually%20include%20phones,was%20employed%20at%20these%20hotels.

Asylum seekers get £49.18 a week if they have to feed themselves or £9.95 a week if their accommodation provides food.
https://www.gov.uk/asylum-support/what-youll-get

Asylum seekers do not get priority over housing.
https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/migration-and-displacement/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/asylum-seekers-are-they-living-on-easy-street#:~:text=They%20can%20choose%20where%20to,another%20new%20and%20unfamiliar%20town.

Oh and Brexit has absolutely had an impact on immigration in this country (as was predicted by "project fear")

Why do you need one liners? Just give your opinions and share your knowledge. Be authentic.

And call him by his real name Yaxley-Lennon.

You have one opinion, they have another. Do you really think your 'punchy one liners' are going to change their mind? Get on with your work and if you believe them to be wrong then just allow them to be wrong.

People now aren't interested in having their mind changed on anything, and that probably includes you too. When they are talking are you actually listening or just waiting to speak to 'debunk' everything they're saying that you think is incorrect and call them racist? They're doing exactly the same with you. Nothing any of you say will make a difference so just get on with your work.

The thing is, they didn't reach their conclusions by using logic. So you won't be able to use facts to change their minds. You won't change their minds at all. I think you're better off not wasting energy on it.

Just concentrate on your work and let them discuss amongst themselves. If they say racist things then report that to HR. If they say things which you simply don't agree with, ignore it. You’re not going to change hearts and minds with some party trick of piping up nifty one-liners and factoids on a subject which you’ve memorised from MN.

Facts do not change beliefs experience does.

Ok, seems I am being unreasonable in hoping to support them to see facts through the morass of disinfo. Will leave them to it in their little bubble.

Seems a shame as we work in a collaborative area, have lots of discussions and I felt that hearing differing opinions is interesting and informative. The information they have given me I have listened to and found out about. I found out local information they were giving me about asylum seekers (I’m new to the area) was completely untrue but I’d been listening to them explain it quite extensively before I found that out. Was just hoping to have some quick facts to share easily with them. Thanks @lkjhgfdsa but I think the consensus is to leave them to their ill-informed racism!

I don’t think you are unreasonable. I do my best to challenge but it’s tiring and frustrating.

You are absolutely NOT being unreasonable.

Natasha Devon did an hour with Zoe Gardner on LBC this evening, Zoe is an immigration expert and invited questions from listeners which she answered with calm, considered facts - it was a great listen, I would recommend if you are looking for a change from the usual inflammatory nonsense stirred up by a lot of the media.