Take what follows as a local cautionary tale, highlighting the potential dangers that arise when divisive political forces are allowed to flourish. Our story takes place in a quaint town just outside Swansea, though with a few adjustments, it could easily occur in any neighborhood.
“I used to take pride in being a resident of Llanelli. Now? I’m more than just embarrassed, I’m ashamed.” These words don’t come from a disgruntled neighbor but from David Darkin, the leader of Llanelli’s council. What’s distressing him isn’t a new eyesore in town, but the troubling developments unfolding on his own streets. Within the confines of his office, he compares the situation outside to the darkest decade of the 20th century.
Not too long ago, nobody here would have even considered bringing up the specter of 1930s fascism. However, that changed this spring when the Home Office took over Llanelli’s most prestigious hotel to accommodate around 250 asylum seekers. Chaos ensued shortly after. The Stradey Park Hotel, considered the jewel of Llanelli, was a sought-after venue for weddings. Even today, as workers dismantle the innards of the building to prepare for its new purpose, it retains its regal charm—a cream-colored Edwardian mansion nestled into a hillside, offering breathtaking views of the Gower coastline.
Now, Suella Braverman is at the helm. No matter how fervently the home secretary promotes cost-cutting measures for asylum seeker accommodations, she finds herself presiding over one of the largest hotel chains in Britain. To deal with a massive backlog of asylum cases created under the Tories’ watch, Braverman has amassed a collection of nearly 400 hotels, surpassing the size of the UK’s Hilton group.
While this arrangement costs taxpayers billions, it brings immense wealth to a select few. Sterling Woodrow, an investment firm based 250 miles away in Billericay, Essex, purchased Stradey Park in 2020. The firm also dabbles in hotel accommodations for refugees, having previously operated in Cumbria. Sterling Woodrow struck a deal with Clearsprings Ready Homes, one of the three companies handling all of the Home Office’s asylum seeker housing. Clearsprings’ founder, Graham King, saw his company’s profits soar to £28m in 2022—the figure was six times higher than the previous year.
Initially, Stradey Park was supposed to welcome its new residents in July. However, local opposition halted those plans. What began with court cases and letters to Whitehall from concerned citizens escalated over the past 12 weeks. A protest camp sprouted right at the hotel’s gates, leading to confusion and fear among the town’s elected officials. Issues that originally centered around the loss of a prestigious hotel and 100 jobs have now morphed into a swamp of conspiracy theories about invaders and foreign rapists.
A recent leaflet distributed in town poses the question, “Is it racist to protect your home from unknown, unvetted immigrants?” Last week, some camp residents even stormed the hotel. Robert Lloyd, an early protest leader, now faces backlash for not being extreme enough. Former friends who attended his wedding now threaten him, and the police have had to increase patrols outside his house.
South Wales has become a magnet for populist demagogues seeking to exploit the situation. Figures like Katy Hopkins and Richard Tice have made appearances for photo-ops, while news outlets like GB News and TalkTV have capitalized on the controversy. This weekend, infamous far-right figure Anne Marie Waters addressed a packed crowd, following the presence of hate-group Patriotic Alternative, which has flooded the town with their extremist literature. The rise of the far-right and its radicalization in Llanelli deeply troubles Rosie Carter of Hope Not Hate.
While the “culture wars” might be little more than a political game in Westminster, the consequences are real and dangerous in places like south Wales, Dunstable, or Knowsley. The mainstream and extremist right-wing forces collaborate to poison communities, allowing deep-seated prejudices to thrive in plain sight. Labour party representatives in Llanelli, like their counterparts elsewhere, have failed to respond with integrity. The only vocal opponent of this bigotry has been Lee Waters, a local member of Senedd Cymru. However, his outspoken stance has resulted in direct threats to him and his family. Despite this, one county councillor shamelessly joined the camp, posing in a camouflage jacket alongside a Welsh Lives Matter sign. The Labour party’s claim to being an anti-racist party remains hollow as no action has been taken against him. Other representatives have remained silent, seemingly unwilling to challenge the prejudices within their electoral base. Their silence normalizes the most base rhetoric.
Steve Kelshaw, a local anti-racist activist, laments the absence of moral authority from traditional sources like churches and the Labour party. This authority was once derived from a strong economic foundation, which has now crumbled. Llanelli’s steel industry, known as a Klondike for its high wages, has vanished. Nearby, Port Talbot, once dubbed Treasure Island due to its incredible wages, has suffered a similar fate. The town center now bears witness to boarded-up shops and dilapidation.
Almost everyone in Llanelli cautioned against venturing near the protest camp, warning of potential intimidation or worse. However, it felt unjust to judge everyone there based on the acts of a few. So, I decided to visit.
The hotel and the adjacent protest camp are situated on a narrow road leading out of town. Demonstrators occupy the area, under the watchful eye of police officers. Once the residents, some of whom have fled war-torn regions, arrive, the hotel will become a fortified structure atop a hill. From a balcony, a banner bearing the words “No illegal immigrants” flutters in the breeze. Other displays feature military motifs, including an RAF flag and a banner emblazoned with the words “Lest we forget” accompanied by a poppy symbol. Passing cars regularly honk in acknowledgment. Curious onlookers emerge from tents to size me up.
During my time there, the conversations I had with different individuals ranged from grievances about housing and job scarcity that could, in theory, be addressed through political and economic means to wild claims about Albanians and Somalis being prone to gang rape. It was as though your neighbor paused in the middle of discussing their lawn to whisper a tale of lizards moving in next door.
Over the years, this region has suffered numerous losses, including its anthracite coal, tin, and steel industries, which once sustained the local population. However, back then, at least the workers were compensated for their troubles. Now, everyone seems to want a piece of Llanelli—hotel owners, outsourcing companies, and government departments all have their fingers in the pot.
An additional issue is the lack of coherent messaging from government officials. Mixed signals and political posturing have only exacerbated the situation, fueling the flames of resentment and division. It is imperative to address the underlying economic and social conditions that contribute to these challenges and work towards finding sustainable solutions.
In conclusion, this story illuminates the destructive nature of divisive politics and the vulnerability of communities when subjected to toxic rhetoric. It serves as a reminder that unity and collaboration are essential in countering these harmful forces. Only through empathy, understanding, and a commitment to progress can we hope to build a better and more harmonious society.
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