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HOPE not hate: Suella Braverman uses far-right theories in immigration speech

HOPE not hate, the UK's leading campaign group against the far right, condemns Suella Braverman's speech on immigration.

Rosie Carter, Director of Policy at HOPE not hate said:

"Suella Braverman's speech has taken far-right tropes and conspiracy theories, like the Great Replacement Theory, and introduced them to the mainstream.

As Braverman speaks about European cities as examples of ‘multiculturalism failures' and that as cultures change due to immigration, they will disappear, she invokes the ideas of far-right figures. 

The Home Secretary has the power to reform our asylum system, but instead uses moments like these to play on fears and throw vulnerable people under the bus. We've recorded a huge surge in far-right activity, inflamed by the language of this divisive Government."

Quotes from Suella Braverman's speech that use the language and conspiracy theories of the far right:

• ‘If cultural change is too rapid and too big then what was already there is diluted, eventually it will disappear'. This quote plays on the racist, far-right conspiracy theory, the Great Replacement Theory. It is the idea that white people are deliberately being replaced via orchestrated mass migration to Western countries so that they will cease to exist. 
• ‘Misguided dogma of multiculturalism' and that we can see the failures of multiculturalism ‘on the streets of cities all over Europe. From Malmo, to Paris, Brussels to Leicester'. 

HOPE not hate research into far-right anti-migrant activity

• HOPE not hate recorded a 102% increase in far-right anti-migrant activity from 2021 to 2022.

• HOPE not hate research finds link between Government language and anti-migrant activity:
• Far-right engagement on migration is increasing as the Government's ‘Stop the boats' campaign ramps up. HOPE not hate found a 149% increase in messages on anti-migrant far-right channels on Telegram from 2021 to the first months of 2023.
• Far-right activity online spikes around key Government announcements. In an example from May 2022, an announcement by Boris Johnson that 50 asylum seekers had been told they would be sent to Rwanda led to a 72% increase in messages about migration in far-right groups on Telegram.

Notes to editors: 

• HOPE not hate is the UK's leading anti-fascist campaign group which monitors and tackles the far-right.  
• Spokespeople from HOPE not hate are available for further comments and broadcast interviews.  
• HOPE not hate has been monitoring the rise in far-right anti-migrant activity in the UK.

Contact:  

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HOPE not hate uses research, education and public engagement to challenge mistrust and racism, and helps to build communities that are inclusive, celebrate shared identities and are resilient to hate.