Politicians’ racist language fuels racism

JVL Introduction

This new report from the Runnymede Trust highlights the way in which language used by politicians and the media about race and immigration has helped shape “the increase in reactionary politics and backlash against antiracism which has emboldened the far right in this country”.

The report said parliamentarians “are more likely to use humanising terms when talking about Ukrainians” – such as “guest”, “brave”, “community” or “diaspora”.

This article may tell some of us what we already know but that the views of antiracism activists is confirmed by research and this may help.  Such language fuels attitudes that can lead to riots such as in Southport last year and the attack on the hotel being used by asylum seekers in Epping.

This needs to change; the government needs to stop trying to outdo Reform and, instead, explain to people that lack of housing and insecure work are not the fault of migrants and asylum seekers but of corporate greed.  The language does need to change but so does our society that needs to work for all of us.

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This article was originally published by The Guardian on Sat 2 Aug 2025. Read the original here.