You need only walk through any London neighbourhood to see that refugees, as they have always done, continue to quietly shape the fabric of London life. From restaurants in Camden to hairdressers in Greenwich, small businesses across the capital are run by people who came here seeking safety. Others are driving buses, caring for older people, or working in the NHS.
Yet too often, the national conversation about refugees tells the opposite story. The loudest voices are those saying refugees come here to take rather than give, that they’re a burden on the system or living in luxury hotels at taxpayers’ expense. This toxic narrative bears little resemblance to reality, but it’s gaining ground.
