AntiSocial Asylum hotels
Aug 15, 2025
In this discussion, Poppy Coburn, Deputy Comment Editor at The Telegraph, and Zoe Gardner, an independent researcher and immigration campaigner, dive into the heated topic of asylum seekers housed in hotels. They explore the complex public perceptions around safety and migration, scrutinizing the narratives of crime statistics that often vilify these vulnerable populations. The conversation also sheds light on the evolution of the asylum system in the UK and the urgent need for clearer policies, advocating for a more compassionate approach to immigration.
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Campaigner Attended Anti-Racist Demonstrations
- Zoe Gardner attended anti-racist demonstrations after racist riots and connects with people at counter-protests.
- She hasn't joined counter-protests this year but stays linked to attendees.
Protests Broadened To Local Women And Families
- Protest demographics shifted: earlier far-right and hardcore activists to more local women and families citing safety concerns.
- That change broadens political salience and complicates attribution of motives.
Numbers Can Mislead On Migrant Crime
- Crime stats linking nationality to offences are often misleading because they compare charges to imperfect population estimates.
- Age, undercounting of migrants and using charges not convictions all distort apparent disproportions.