FURTHER to recent correspondence about asylum seekers (EA July 5,9 and 15), many of your readers may be reassured to learn that the British public, while overestimating by over 10 times the number of the world's refugees and asylum seekers hosted by the UK, are broadly sympathetic towards them.
They are, in fact, four times more likely to be positive than negative towards asylum seekers arriving in their community a reflection of British values of fair play and justice. These are the findings of a national MORI public opinion poll published at the end of June.
Sadly, young people are apparently less welcoming, perhaps because they tend to be less well informed about what people are fleeing from. Your tragic story about Burhan Warsame on July 9 might help there.
And given that 85 per cent of those surveyed believe that the media is negative about asylum seekers, it might also, coincidentally encourage us to see our local media at least as balanced in this respect.
Finally, in reply to RW Selway (EA, July 15), the vast majority of refugees do seek asylum in the first country they come to, and we see them in their millions on our TV screens in vast sprawling tent cities, largely dependent on international aid. Thankfully, some are able to do better for themselves, their families and for their host countries.
LIZA LISHMAN
Lawn Cottages
The Planks
Swindon
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