Foreign secretary Philip Hammond’s comment about “marauding” migrants and Europe’s inability to cope with an influx of “millions” of Africans is not only deeply distasteful but a clear distortion of the facts (Report, 10 August). Of the number of first-time asylum seekers in the EU in the first quarter of this year, about 40% of the claims were lodged in Germany compared with only 4% in Britain. The camp at Calais which has dominated the headlines holds an estimated 3,000 people and of these only a handful make it to the UK and avoid arrest.
Migration in this context is a humanitarian problem, with many of those fleeing Africa coming from failed states such as Libya, or war zones such as Syria. They flee war, persecution and economic failure. If Mr Hammond wants to tackle the root cause of these problems, as he claims to, they are not to be found at Calais, but in those countries affected. To describe all these individuals as a drain on the resources of this country is highly disrespectful and shows just how wedded this government is to an anti-human rights agenda. These people are resourceful and motivated and it is a mistake for the UK government to go down this route. These pressures are caused by war and economic failure. Barbed wire and sniffer dogs are not a long-term solution. Economic development and peace is fundamental to addressing the issue in those nations concerned, and it is a great pity to see this sidelined while the UK government resorts to dog-whistle politics.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
• You report that Philip Hammond referred to millions of “marauding” African migrants posing a threat to the social structure of the EU. As the distinguished Guardian editor CP Scott said: “Comment is free but facts are sacred.” Hammond actually used the word “marauding” when commenting about those “desperate” migrants whom we have seen on television threatening safety and security near the Channel Tunnel.
John Kelly
Cardiff
• Take Philip Hammond’s inflammatory and gratuitous language along with that of the prime minister’s injudicious use of the word swarm. Couple this with the flaccid response from Labour and we are left with a huge question mark over the ability and intelligence of politicians to find solutions to problems that have been with us for years.
Africa needs a “Marshall plan” for economic construction for those countries with democratically elected governments. From economic stability and growth they would then be well placed to solve their own problems.
Chris Hodgkins
London
• It is astonishing that Mr Hammond said African migrants are a threat to the British way of life. There are many Africans living in Britain – including artists, nurses, sportspeople and people working in the care industry – and they have enriched British society.
Handsen Chikowore
London
• When Philip Hammond talks about a threat to the standard of living of the EU, I hope that at least some of us would be prepared to shave a little off our standard of living in order to offer some succour to those trying to escape the chaos of Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan. The government is anxious not to create a haven pull factor but that is a lost cause – a prison in Europe is preferable to military slavery in Eritrea or barrel bombs in Syria. Let’s not turn our country into a fortress to protect little Englanders.
Roger Taylor
Bishopstone, East Sussex
• How stupid of me. All along I thought it was the hedge-funders, the property billionaires, the bankers and the rest of the global rich aided and abetted by our present government who have been doing their best to ruin the standard of living of the majority who live in the UK by de-skilling our jobs, making housing unaffordable and buying up our healthcare, prisons, water, electricity and gas servicesutilities and much else besides. Now Philip Hammond tells us it’s all those penniless immigrants fleeing oppression and poverty. Well, you learn something new every day.
Rodney Mace
Hay-on-Wye, Brecknockshire
• With the new wall being built in Hungary (Work begins on border fence to block migrants, 14 July), I am reminded of a conversation I had with a woman whose family has owned, since the 1920s, the apartment where I spent the night a few years ago. The parents of my host sheltered Jewish people in what is now a bathroom – a room sealed off to foil the Gestapo, who visited frequently.
My host also told me about the columns of Hungarians passing through Vienna fleeing from the 1956 invasion. The Viennese came out on the streets as the Hungarians passed and gave them food, clothing, and sometimes even their wedding rings. It is incomprehensible how a country with a history like Hungary’s could build a wall to shut out refugees from other countries.
Deborah Cook
Toronto, Canada
