BritCits

Spotted on Twitter and in the news

Detainees at Yarl's Wood immigration centre 'facing sexual abuse'.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/14/detainees-yarls-wood-sexual-abuse

The following statement from UKBA is unacceptable - and I'm being very polite here :

The UK Border Agency's professional standards unit, which has responsibility for investigating allegations of misconduct by UKBA officials or private contractors, has said the alleged victim did not indicate to its investigator that her sexual contact with guards was "anything other than consensual".

How can 'consent' be meaningful in such circumstances, with the huge power differential between inmate and captor?

What kind of 'professional standards' would consider even 'consensual' relationships to be acceptable?

The quote from UKBA is appalling and horrific and betrays a depraved mindset.
---

https://twitter.com/effandsteph :
As a recent UK immigrant who benefited from the rule changes, I'm appalled by them. Love shouldn't be based on privilege.
---

https://twitter.com/KemptownBen :
40% of lawful British residents unable to 'bring' foreign-born spouses to live with them  (Green Party Conference)

Make that 47% :
http://www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press-releases/women-young-people-and-non-londoners-are-most-affected-changes-family-migration-polic

That is of course if you ignore expats, locked into exile from the country of their birth;  and the self-employed or contractors - who may earn the required amount but have a nightmare to actually -prove- it; and of course many who have to jump through the ridiculous bureaucratic hoops. People like Shafik, with his fiancee in Syria.

My best guess? 60% at least are affected by the rules, and of course -all- are affected by bureaucracy and expense, and a general climate of hostility and ill-will.
---

Good for Sweden - The Swedish government announced on September 3 that it would be granting permanent residency to any Syrian refugee seeking asylum that's already fled to Sweden.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/63489/in-surprisingly-bold-move-sweden-offers-a-home-to-all-syrian-refugees
---

https://twitter.com/sundersays :
They come over here and wear our sequins ... "Why are nearly all Strictly's dancers foreign?" (Daily Mail)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2420471/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2013-Why-nearly-Strictlys-dancers-foreign.html#ixzz2eqqAE1AK
---

https://twitter.com/ColinYeo1 :
Bizarre: @drhmwilliams: “There are some reports emerging of UKBA agents adding spousal visa applicants as “friends” on Facebook”

Be careful out there...
---

UN bedroom tax report reveals truth about Tories.

http://mikesivier.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/un-bedroom-tax-report-reveals-truth-about-tories/
---

Thousands demonstrate in Athens after supporters of neo-Nazi party leave nine seriously injured amid fears of civil war.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/greeks-protest-golden-dawn-attack-communists
---

New movement will Max resistance to Tories’ scapegoating of migrants.
http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/34331/New+movement+will+Max+resistance+to+Tories%E2%80%99+scapegoating+of+migrants

More on the Movement Against Xenophobia at the JCWI site : http://www.jcwi.org.uk/policy/movement-against-xenophobia

BritCits are very happy to support this initiative with our fellow fighters against intolerance and racism.