Words Matter began in 2022 as a campaign to change the narrative around migration: from explainers, to a pledge calling on politicians and charities to actively tackle harmful language, and delivering workshops. With 30 explainers looking at phrases and dehumanising words, and over 20 workshops to trade unions, charities, companies and funders; and a toolkit to rebut the anti-migrant rhetoric during the General Election; we know this still isn’t enough.
Divisive rhetoric has become the norm, simple narrative change isn’t enough anymore. Disinformation is rampant and the far-right are mobilised. We need to shift our approach.
Disinformation is the new norm
Disinformation or the ‘deliberate creation and spread of false information often with the intent to deceive or manipulate’ about migrants and other marginalised groups has been happening for some time. In summer 2024, the devastating repercussions of disinformation crystalised in the explosion of racist riots across the UK. Riots fuelled by social media posts which incorrectly claimed the individual responsible for the murder of three children in Southport was Muslim and had come to the UK to seek asylum. This was the spark that lit a fuse built on years of racist anti-migrant narratives.
Almost a year later, divisive and harmful rhetoric continues to be weaponised for political gain. Reform UK won councils across England on a wave of racist anti-migrant slogans while the new Government panders to division by pushing through a new Bill which will implement counter-terrorism powers into the immigration system.
These narratives rely on far-right ideologies which frame migrants as a threat to national security whilst pushing the insidious ‘great replacement’ conspiracy theory and ‘nativism’. Once confined to the fringes of social media, disinformation has clawed its way into the mainstream, increasingly parrotted by politicians and shaping policies from Nationality and Borders Act, to the Border Security Bill, Immigration White Paper and the Prime Minister’s already infamous Enoch Powell-inspired ‘Island of Strangers’ speech.
The status quo isn’t working
For too long, the nonprofit sector and liberals have reinforced ideas of exceptionalism and hierarchies of the ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ migrants to counter the anti-migrant narratives. An approach relying on White sensibilities, indifference and cognitive dissonance in order to thrive- the same indifference that refuses to acknowledge the existence of systemic ableism, ageism, classism, forms of queerphobia and transphobia, or Islamophobia.
What needs to change?
- Stop letting the right define the agenda: The economic argument is a prime example: when the right pushes the idea that migrants are a ‘burden’ to the economy, we respond by talking about the economic benefits. All this does is concede ground, reinforce conditionality and set increasingly high bars for who is seen to be ‘worthy’ of coming to the UK.
- Embed anti-oppression in our organising: Combatting anti-migrant narratives and policies can’t happen through palatable communications strategies. Real change can only occur through political education, anti-disinformation work and drawing upon the histories of Black feminist and indigenous forms of resistance and healing- while understanding how anti-migrant rhetoric intersects with ableism, homophobia, racism, transphobia, classism and other forms of oppression. This also means reflecting on our own practice, and making sure we learn and unlearn. That means we need to understand why people are being dehumanised and why that’s so effective.
- Use political education as an anti-disinformation tool: At Migrants’ Rights Network, we have been increasingly embedding political education in our approach to tackling anti-migrant racism, particularly in our workshops. Political education enables individuals to reflect on their own lived experience in order to analyse the world around them, and how they perceive others. Most importantly, it’s rooted in ideas of collective liberation and social justice with the goal of moving everyone to a place of action.
- Mobilise the community: Over the last few months, we have recruited and trained Community Organisers from a wide range of migrant communities to deliver political education and capacity building workshops aimed at changing the narrative on migration from the ground up. We need to tackle internalised narratives and identify the weaponisation of division that seeks to fracture us.
For a long time, we’ve failed to acknowledge how indifference, fragility and a lack of an anti-oppression approach have been weaponised by the far-right to attack not just migrants, but disabled, queer and working class people. History has shown us time and time again that if they come for one of us, they come for all of us. That’s why we need to work together and recognise that our struggles are linked.
We’re keen to learn from best practice while updating and sharing our resources to create meaningful movements for change across the UK. If you are involved in anti-disinformation and anti-fascist organising in your local community, then we want to hear from you!
Stay tuned as we roll out our revamp!
Read our article for Representology on anti-migrant narratives and far-right violence.
Words Matter Compilation
Click here to find a concise booklet of all our explainers!
In this project:
Navigate the subheadings below to find more information on how you can make your Words Matter pledge, how you can commission us for a workshop, and how you can hold your MPs to account.