“Who is Scott Horton?” I hear you say:
Now that we have remedied that, I have been sent a recent post from Councillor Scott Horton’s Facebook page that exposes yet more ignorance and prejudice. However, the saddest part is the number of people who choose to fall for it. In an age when facts for many are an impediment to their world view, humanity is being dragged into a dark and scurrilous underbelly.
The following provides the post in full and also then exposes all of its inaccuracies and racist opinions. It is for those who prefer enlightenment over the acrid smell of lies, misinformation, and hatred regarding our fellow human beings.
‘I note that illegal immigrants ( not refugees they are completely different ) approx 500 ? are to be housed in an old Army Camp at Crowborough and the locals are very pissed off and out protesting ,obviously far right extremist nazi fascists. Well the beautiful people of Portland have been there and seen all of this when the Bibby Stockholm a floating hotel was plonked into Portland Port…done ! not one single #### or consideration was given to any of us.We watched as a luxury coach service was provided every 15 minutes to cabby them about .We watched as they were given money ,bikes,fishing rods ,smart new clothes and trainers ,we watched them in large groups on the beaches in the street boozing ,smashing bottles ,dealing drugs the whole concept was intimidating for local people …the police had to keep their mouths shut and allowed no opinion,locals were branded racist and fascist ( not all a few really loved them for reasons only known to them ) .All of this as many locals struggle in Dorsets most deprived area apparantley ,so thanks for that ! I am not saying they were all bad men or all behaved badly ,indeed there were a few success stories that I know of .They were moved as quickly as they arrived or glitterburst throughout the Country. All of this is avoidable and easily stopped ….but it’s not. I still think that those who welcome them with open arms should sponsor them ,home them and provide for them or shut the #### up,this includes politicians ,who have plenty of money plenty of space and plenty of houses …that would be a lovely gesture.A government that has nothing but contempt for our own people .I have already been labelled a flag shagging so called patriot pedalling my own ideology not by Portland people but by a small minority who live here and think they call the shots …..good luck on that …..’
This was accompanied by the following image:
Below is a clear, bold, careful explanation of why the quoted text above is factually inaccurate and why several of its claims and implications are racist or discriminatory. I’ll address this in a structured way so it’s easy for all to follow and use.
1. Why it is factually inaccurate
A. It claims “illegal immigrants” are being housed, rather than asylum seekers
In the UK, people placed in government-run accommodation (such as former military sites, hotels, barges like the Bibby Stockholm) are asylum seekers, not “illegal immigrants”.
- Under UK law, a person who arrives irregularly may still legally claim asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
- Their presence is lawful while their claim is processed.
- The government and the legal system itself call them asylum seekers, not “illegal immigrants”.
Using the wrong legal category misrepresents the situation and fuels stigma. Used knowingly, it becomes a lie.
Claims about asylum seekers being given luxury treatment are false
The text asserts that asylum seekers were given:
- “money”
- “luxury coach service every 15 minutes”
- “bikes, fishing rods, smart new clothes and trainers”
- “boozing, smashing bottles, dealing drugs” in large groups
These claims are either false, exaggerated, or anecdotal without evidence.
What’s accurate:
- Asylum seekers receive a small allowance: about £49/week (at the time). This applies if they are in self-catered accommodation, but in places like the Bibby Stockholm or the proposed Crowborough site, food is provided. This means the allowance is reduced to £9.95 per week, per person.
- Asylum accommodation transportation is typically basic and infrequent.
- Clothes, bikes, and recreational equipment are usually donated by local charities, not “given” as benefits.
- There was no evidence of widespread criminality or antisocial behaviour by residents of the Bibby Stockholm. When isolated incidents occur, they are handled individually, not representative of the group.
These embellishments turn individuals into caricatures and are a hallmark of harmful misinformation and lies.
It implies police were “ordered” not to intervene
There is no evidence that UK police were instructed to ignore crimes by asylum seekers.
UK police respond to crime based on threat and evidence, regardless of immigration status.
This is a common conspiracy narrative and a lie.
D. It suggests local deprivation is caused by asylum seekers
Local economic hardship is caused by long-term structural issues—housing policy, wages, regional inequality—not by asylum seekers who:
- are not allowed to work,
- receive minimal state support,
- represent a tiny fraction of public expenditure.
This is a misattribution fallacy.
2. Why the content is racist or discriminatory
A. Collective condemnation of a group based on nationality or migration status
Statements like:
- “boozing, smashing bottles, dealing drugs”
- “the whole concept was intimidating”
- “easily stopped…but it’s not”
- “they were all bad men…except a few success stories”
These descriptions paint an entire group—people from multiple countries, ethnic groups and backgrounds—as inherently dangerous or undesirable. That is group-based vilification, which is discriminatory even if no specific race is named.
B. Dehumanising language
Terms like:
- “cabby them about”
- “plonked”
- “luxury coach service”
- “shut the #### up”
treat asylum seekers as objects or burdens rather than human beings fleeing conflict, torture, or persecution.
Dehumanisation is a common feature of racist rhetoric.
C. “Those who welcome them should take them into their homes”
This argument casts asylum seekers as a threat that must be personally contained, implying they don’t belong in communities.
It is a standard nativist trope used historically against many ethnic groups.
D. Suggesting that being critical of anti-immigration rhetoric makes someone a “fascist” / “flag shagging patriot”
The text frames disagreement about asylum seekers as a moral battle between “real” locals and outsiders or “beautiful people”, reinforcing an exclusionary in-group vs out-group identity.
This is characteristic of xenophobic discourse.
E. Asserting that migrants are the reason locals suffer
This echoes patterns of racist scapegoating:
- “A government that has nothing but contempt for our own people”
- “as many locals struggle in Dorset’s most deprived area, apparently, so thanks for that”
This implies resources are being stolen by foreigners, a claim historically used to stigmatize minority groups. The wealthiest in society steal much more than those on the lowest incomes, as all evidence reveals. Hitting down at the vulnerable portrays not only ignorance but also the characteristics of a bully.
3. Summary
The passage is:
Factually inaccurate because:
- It mislabels asylum seekers as “illegal immigrants”.
- It exaggerates or invents benefits given to migrants.
- It claims widespread criminality without evidence.
- It spreads conspiracy-like claims about police or government behaviour.
- It falsely links local deprivation to asylum seekers.
Racist or xenophobic because:
- It attributes negative behaviour of individuals to an entire (racially diverse) group.
- It uses dehumanising language and stereotypes.
- It frames migrants as a threat to the community.
- It uses group-based blame to explain social issues.
- It employs classic scapegoating narratives.
It is also worth pointing out to those who prefer facts that:
‘The Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2024 release shows that of the 108,000 people claiming asylum in 2024, just under a third (35,000) had arrived on a small boat without permission to enter. Internally matched data shows that slightly more than a third (40,000) had travelled to the UK on a visa.’
Therefore, for those who listen to and believe the likes of Councillor Scott Horton, it appears living a lie and bubbling over with hatred for others is a lifestyle choice.
Regretfully, many are continuing to display the hatred that was stewed up when the Bibby Stockholm was actually within the borough and not an increasingly distant memory. It reveals how shallow and empty many lives are.
And remember if you prefer the light:
