PHIL MAXWELL

You would be right in thinking that the last successful invasion of the UK was in 1066. Home secretary Suella Braverman thinks another invasion is underway. With reference to refugees seeking asylum in the UK she recently told the House of Commons that the country was being subjected to an “invasion”. This was the day after a man with links to the far right threw firebombs at a Dover immigration centre. After an investigation, counter-terrorism police announced they had found evidence that the attack was motivated by an “extreme rightwing” terrorist ideology.

Apparently the home secretary’s first priority is to protect the security of the UK and the safety of its citizens. However her use of language stirs up hostility and racism towards refugees and others.

As well as harbouring fantasies about “invasion” she used her speech at the Tory Party conference to stir up hostility: “I would love to be having a front page of The Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda. That’s my dream, that’s my dream, it’s my obsession,” Braverman said. She added that she would like to see the flight before Christmas. Braverman then used her ­conference speech to promise a blanket ban on anyone who enters Britain “irregularly” – ­including on small boats across the Channel. 

People fleeing war, poverty and climate chaos are very unlikely to use anything but “irregular” methods given the lack of official ways to come to Britain. Using government figures the Refugee Council points out that 76% of initial asylum decisions made in the year to June 2022 have been grants of protection, meaning they have been awarded refugee status or humanitarian protection. Currently there are 117,945 awaiting an initial decision about their status.

The Government’s attitude towards refugees is barbaric. This photomontage “Invasion” challenges the untruthful rhetoric directed at incredibly vulnerable people.

I’ve used a number of different images including the tender and powerful painting of the ‘Virgin and Child’ by the 15th century Dutch painter Dieric Bouts. The beach was photographed in Deal. Thanks to activist Hazuan Hashim for displaying the message welcoming refugees!

You can purchase a copy of this print here: https://etsy.me/3Gtww9P