The government is ruthlessly, cynically and callously trying to ramp up the imagined threat of people arriving on our shores. But how should responsible media outlets respond?
Well, for a start they could stop all interviews when ministers lie. Just ask them to correct the lie and apologise or end the interview.
So when the Home Secretary calls asylum seekers “illegal immigrants”, politely point out that they are asylum seekers. We know they are asylum seekers because they are seeking asylum and being processed by the Home Office as asylum seekers and many are granted asylum.
If they are judged to not be worthy of asylum then they can be deported and if they go missing they are then illegal immigrants.
It is a well known, legal, long running process and when Government ministers call asylum seekers something else they are lying.
Government ministers will complain, demand airtime, attack the liberal elite and rant and fume, but there is no reason or legal obligation to broadcast lies. Not when you know they are lies.
In fact, the media have an obligation to stand up to the government on issues such as this, they are trying to change the language, lie, demonise people and whip up hatred.
Sounds like a good story to me.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
Couldn’t agree more. But it will be a long cold wait before Mail, Express & Torygraph behave responsibly