Concern about the government’s immigration proposals has facilitated an old myth being regurgitated, namely that signs were commonplace in the postwar years saying “No Irish, no blacks, no dogs” (Green light for tenant immigration checks, 21 October).
Notices aimed at Commonwealth immigrants (“no coloureds”, “no West Indians”) certainly did exist, evidence for which exists in the BBC film archive.
In the 1980s, Irish activists asserted that “No Irish, no blacks, no dogs” had been widespread, but there is no evidence for such signs in any British or Irish archive (they were not, for example, mentioned in parliament during the 1960s race relations debates nor by TDs in Dáil Éireann).
A much-reproduced photograph is held by the Irish Studies Centre of London Metropolitan University. It depicts a front window with handwritten signs saying “Bed & breakfast” and “No Irish, no blacks, no dogs”. The photograph emerged only in the late 1980s, and the university has conceded to me that it is of “somewhat uncertain” provenance. They have been unable to discover who took the picture, where or when. An old news clipping which I have presented to the university points to the image having been mocked up for an exhibition called “An Irish Experience” mounted at the now-defunct Roger Casement Irish Centre in Islington, London.
This dubious picture has long been cited by politicians, academics, even the Equality and Human Rights Commission, all of whom no doubt believe it is genuine. Many even claim to have seen such signs in the past, though what they may actually remember is the London Met picture endlessly recirculated, nowadays on the internet.
John Draper
London
• The government isn’t just turning landlords into a private police force for its immigration policies. It is also planning to require them to enforce its rental policies.
It proposes that households bringing in £40k pa in London (eg one average London wage of £34 pa plus one old age pension) should be refused protected charitable rental terms by housing associations and be charged full market rent. To achieve this it is proposing that HMRC divulges tenants’ otherwise confidential tax and income details to these private landlords.
Housing associations have been vocal in their opposition to having the right to buy extended to them. When will we hear similar concern from them at this constraint on their freedom of action as private property owners and further disruption of their relations with their tenants?
Nik Wood
London
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