Students have occupied part of a London university in a protest over the detention of nine cleaners arrested by immigration officers.Because the immigration authorities had the wrong people, perchance?
No, of course not. This was SOAS, after all:
Five cleaners at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in Bloomsbury have been deported in what students call an "act of revenge".It’s a bit cheeky getting involved in a ‘living wage’ campaign when you actually have no right to work in the country in the first place, wouldn’t you say?
The cleaners were involved in a "living wage" campaign and the students say that is why SOAS called in police.
The Home Office said the cleaners were illegal workers and had to be removed.And a big cheer went up from everyone.
Everyone, that is, who respects the rule of law:
More than 40 students occupied the director's office at 0930 BST on Monday, saying SOAS's reputation had been "tainted" by the incident.Hard to see how, given SOAS’s reputation is already that of a hotbed of crazy left wing ideas…
One of the occupying students said: "Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression.I’m not sure myself how ‘State brutality’ translates to ‘removing illegal immigrants’, but I guess it helps to have received an ‘education’ at SOAS…
"SOAS's reputation as a university has been tainted due to the complicity with state brutality in the arrest of the cleaners."
The students said all the cleaners should be able to stay - regardless of whether they have legal permission to work in the UK.
And, in a calculated attempt to gain the political agitator vote (and thereby lose thousands more votes from the working class bloc on minimum wages or unable to get a job cleaning offices due to illegal workers), a Labour MP steps forward to put his foot firmly in his mouth:
Labour MP John McDonnell has given his backing to the cleaners.No, Jack, what’s absolutely shameful is a government minister interfering in the business of removing from the UK those who have broken the law, simply so that he can grub a few votes from it….
He said: "As living wage campaigns build in strength, we are increasingly seeing the use of immigration statuses to attack workers fighting against poverty wages.
"The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home.
"It is absolutely shameful."
Ha! Well-spotted Julia!
ReplyDeleteAs a SOAS old boy, I can testify to the crazy atmosphere of the place. I loved my time there despite being a lazy sod, but it just brings it all home to you how far removed from the working class some of the students are. Pillocks!
Boris likes the idea of an amnesty for illegals.
ReplyDeleteBoris commmision a report on amnesty for illegals
Report says amnesty would be a good thing.
quel suprise
my thoughts here
http://pavlovscat2.blogspot.com/2009/06/get-fucked-boris.html
'One of the occupying students said: "Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression'.'
ReplyDeleteSo this spokesperson will of course denounce any 'violence and aggression' from SWPers, radical muslims etc against those they disagree with ?
The reported remarks from the students and John McDonnell are classics - a melange of white liberal guilt, third world firstism, and Dave Spart.
"As a SOAS old boy, I can testify to the crazy atmosphere of the place."
ReplyDeleteSo, it is possible to come out sane, then..? ;)
"Boris likes the idea of an amnesty for illegals."
*sigh*
Dreadful idea, Boris.
Amnesties are bound to fail - not only are you rewarding (and so encouraging) illegal behaviour, but you are simultaneously spitting in the face of all those legal migrants who have jumped through hoops to do things the right way...
"So this spokesperson will of course denounce any 'violence and aggression' from SWPers, radical muslims etc against those they disagree with ?"
Don't hold your breath!
The School of Anti-Semites as it is known in one of the circles in which I move. The cousin of a Jewish friend of mine studied there, was regularly on the receiving end of you can imagine what, complaned to someone further up the U of L foodchain (also Jewish) and was told he just had to put up with it. True story.
ReplyDelete