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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Jane Martinson

A desperate, opportunist press and vicious politicians: no wonder the debate on refugees is so awful

A protest outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers in Horley, 23 August 2025
A protest outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers in Horley, 23 August 2025. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

At the end of August the Sun put a picture of a pink poodle-shaped balloon on its front page, not to illustrate the last dog days of summer but the latest migrant hotel scandal, a story that has dominated the UK news agenda for weeks. In this case, the “balloonacy” of teaching hobbies to asylum seekers.

The silly season, in which the press seeks to entertain readers with lighter news during the summer, is cancelled this year.

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