Reform's chairman is right: young Britons are demoralised. But it's not because they hate their country
But something else Yusuf said was actually true: buried among nationalist bilge about the British empire being good, actually, he said in an interview, 'There has been an industrial-scale demoralisation, particularly of young people in this country.' He thinks they're being demoralised because they're being taught to hate their country. In fact, for so many of us, hating our country, or certainly the flaws in its governance and behaviour, are what gets us out of bed in the morning. Yet there is a demoralisation in Gen Z, no question: the right may blame it on anti-patriotism, I could blame it on anything from a curriculum full of climate despair, juxtaposed with their own powerless and the visible inaction of those with power, to the simple fact that life has been economically really tough, for huge and increasing numbers of people, since the financial crash, which is to say, the entire time they've been alive.
But a couple of notes on pessimism – and none of them are 'wave more union flags, and it will go away': first, it's really hard to meaningfully seed it in the young. You can make them feel stupid, for voicing anything other than gloom, but you can't sap their will to action. Second, misery only serves two forces, those of reactionary politics, and those of capital. Ideally, we wouldn't be teaching them any of life's harsh realities without simultaneously teaching them how to organise. Realistically, on the current performance of mature society, it'll be them teaching us how to organise.
Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist
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While guests claimed they were not given a reason for the cancellations, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed: 'We are aware of the Government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. 'It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.' Local residents group chief Maxi Gorynski is an IT worker renting a high-rise flat in Canary Wharf. He made clear he wanted to distinguish himself and fellow residents from far-right demonstrators, saying they were 'notably distinct'. However, he told the Financial Times he was concerned the suspected asylum seekers could bring 'bag theft and gig economy fraud, all the way up to robbery, arson, sexual assault, rape, even murder' to their area. Felicity J Lord estate agent John Costea also told the FT that clients from the UK and abroad had asked 'many questions' about what is going on, such as 'how is it going to reflect their property value'. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Since this Government took office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system, removing more than 35,000 people with no right to be here in our first year. 'From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament. 'We will continue to work closely with community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have, as we look to fix this broken system together. 'In the interim, the security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our first priority.' Protests have broken out across the country this summer, with more than 150 gathering outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk last week after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men. Trouble first broke out in Epping two weeks ago after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town by attempting to kiss her. He denies the charges. The protest started peacefully, but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter protesters and police. A police officer sits in a car outside the entrance of the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf A police cordon and fencing is placed outside the Britannia International Hotel this morning A person waves an English flag from a car as it passes the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf One placard brought by a group of protesters said: 'This is a peaceful protest to protect our own.' Amid warnings 'discontent is real' in Britain, Met Police officers were called to the Britannia International Hotel, on Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf Furious hotel guests have left damning reviews online, claiming they were told their stays were 'cancelled' Police officers gather in front of counter-protesters outside the Canary Wharf hotel Essex Police has faced major questions after footage emerged of officers escorting pro-migrant activists to the hotel - despite the force initially denying this has happened. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted footage allegedly showing pro-migrant protesters being 'bussed' to the demonstration in police vans but Essex Police said this was 'categorically' untrue. However, after footage emerged of cops leading pro-migrant activists to the hotel by foot, Essex police admitted its officers had escorted the protesters. Farage had called for Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington to quit, saying it was 'absolutely disgraceful' and 'heads must roll'. But Chief Constable Harrington rejected claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. He said: 'The only protection that officers are doing is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view, whichever your views about it. 'Where officers have intervened that is because there has been are not being partial in any way, shape or form.' When asked if he would resign, he said: 'No, I am not going to do that. This is not about me, this is about the communities of Essex... the issue is not about my resignation.' He said Essex Police made 10 arrests, adding: 'What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping. 'That is not tolerable, it will not be tolerated, and to that end, we have made 10 arrests.' In a warning to Farage and other politicians about their online posts, he added: 'It is not the police's job to clamp down on elected politicians... All I am asking is that people are responsible about what they say and they consider the real world consequences.' MPs and council leaders have raised fears that Britain could be heading for another 'summer of riots' - in a repeat of the street violence that followed the Southport murders last year. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner warned that anger at high levels of illegal immigration is risking social cohesion in Britain's poorest communities and must be addressed. Her comments came after Sir Keir Starmer was warned by Epping Forest Council Leader Christ Whitbread that the UK is a 'powder keg' that could explode. Newly appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly criticised the Prime Minister for a 'disconnect from reality' when it comes to housing asylum seekers.
