This is the most shameful and despicable thing I have seen in a very long time. The suffering of people turned into something akin to a game show—one that will only serve to feed the racists. @SkyNews, I call on you to delet your tweet and this segment from your programming.

And then I ask you to get some experts on you programmes to discuss what is happening. It is your job to inform people, not to help whip up hate and hysteria. /end

PS 1/3: This is a take I’ve seen a lot. I don’t disagree—migrants and refugees have been go-to scapegoats for years now. But it’s important to note that this isn’t the only reason for what is happening, neither RE: Govt actions nor news reporting. https://twitter.com/georgemonbiot/status/1293143159535435778?s=21 https://twitter.com/georgemonbiot/status/1293143159535435778

PS 2/3: For the Govt, going after dinghies etc is rooted in the hostile environment ideology—it still firmly underpins UK migration policy. For news outlets there is an element of “clickbait” that many are answering to. Both aid the dehumanisation of migrants and refugees.

PS 3/3: So please don’t reduce what’s happenig to being a distraction. That’s a factor, yes; but there are systemic problems too and they are there irrespective of the wider context. /end