Llanelli – The voice of love and compassion you’re not hearing

I needed to see this article today. To the people of Llanelli, you are loved.. and to those in Llanelli who are standing against racism and fascism, gratitude and admiration. There will be no fascism in Cymru. It will not be tolerated. If you adore Cymru and wish to preserve its culture, then check your history. Its not like there never has been nor isn't racism here, sadly there is, its just that we don't tolerate bullying in Cymru. As a nation, historically, Cymru has been the victim of bullying tactics, even today, Westminster uses bullying strategies against us. So although there are racists among us, it will not be tolerated. We know who the enemies of Cyru are, we know who are the ones who stole from us in the past and do so currently and plan to do even more so in the not-at-all-distant future. It's not the terrified people in a hotel surrounded by people who have been tricked and misled by bullies and con artists, ironically the brown person that IS stealing from us, that IS on the make, is the swine in Ten Downing Street, who was born and raised here amongst the rich white white people of England. Who boasted of having no working-class friends and of ensuring money ent to more affluent areas in England. Our enemies are not a racial group, it is the people who deprive us of equality, take away our rights, sell us out at every opportunity to line their own pockets, who allow Zaibatsu-Like corporations to write the tax laws, who cheat their expenses and accept dinner from "lobbyists". I kind of feel sad for those who think a bunch of terrified people in a Llabnelli hotel cn do more damage to their lives than the people who sit in Westminster like demons blind to their own sins passing law and legislature that allows workers rights to be erased and pollution to be pumped into our water, how blinded and broken and scared must they be?... However, I hope that any who break the law are dealt with mercilessly and I hope that all of them see how they are exploited and whose benefit they truly serve....

“We’ll keep a welcome…” Croeso! The people objecting to the asylum seeker families need to think about what COULD happen to their own descendants in the future. We MUST offer sanctuary and hope to the people who come to the Stradey Park Hotel.

Diolch am yr erthygl - mae'r hanner gynta'n arbennig, bach rhy gwleidyddol a phleidgar yn r'ail hanner. S'dim rhaid i'r sefyllfa yma fod yn wleidyddol o gwbl. I've spoken to many people living in Llanelli, from Llanelli and born in Llanelli - nobody thinks that the situation at the hotel is ideal (ranging from "it isn't the best idea" to total opposition). As the beginning of this opinion piece states: "the legitimate frustrations and concerns of local residents – let’s be clear this is a plan that doesn’t work for anyone". That's the very pulse of the town encapsulated in a quote right there. As with any issue, it's more complicated than "for or against". Despite the unfortunate fact that there are indeed some locals attending the anti-immigration protests at the hotel (fewer, it seems, on the other side but still some), the leaders, organisers and the general thrust of their message doesn't seem very local. Indeed, it doesn't seem very Welsh. Neither does the other side, frankly. This whole affair goes to show that the culture wars, or the battle between the far Left and far Right benumbs the people of Wales and ignores the situation displaced peoples find themselves in, robbing them of basic humanity. Further, it highlights how the realpolitik approach of the British Left/neoliberals and the Union Jack-waving Right doesn't seem very 'real' in Wales. This whole affair truly highlights how different we are as a nation. My heart pushes me leftwards on this issue (indeed, on most issues - plus repetitious barks of "why are you betraying your country?" from the far-right hits me as quite ironic when they wave the butcher's apron and rub shoulders with people who openly detest our culture), but my head cannot abide the disingenuous nature of the narrative building, the sophistry and dirty tactics that often comes from the Left. One side puts feelings over facts, the other ignores feelings in place of facts (not both sets of loons at the Stradey Park - No facts, bad feelings down there). This is why I find my side (the Left) so repellent right now: ignoring feelings is a lack of compassion, ignoring facts is lying. Tying all that is good to the history of the Left, especially communism, is particularly galling. Stop being the other side of the dirty penny, it seems just as dehumanising as the far Right (despite not being as directly hostile to migrants) when using them as a political tool. Having said all that, it's really hard to get too enervated by this situation as a broader political issue, with our own freedom as a nation being at the very forefront for me. But human beings deserve a basic consideration as such, some rights are universal, and you cannot simply ignore what's going on around you. I'll welcome individuals from anywhere who find Wales as their new home whilst um-ing and ah-ing over the issue as a broader political topic - y'know, like almost everyone in Wales. In that spirit, this is how I see things panning out: many displaced people will end up in various parts of Wales over the next decade, some facing new hardships, some bringing problems, some met with compassion, some will simply go along to get along, but one thing is certain: after a little time, should they choose to stay here, they'll be accepted, treated with the same basic regard under the law as everyone else, and their children will be from here. Cymru grows, in every sense, just like we always have.

The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is a policy of the UK Conservative government (given the circumstances I understand why hotels are being used). Therefore, wouldn't it be nice if the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, someone who constantly attacks others for not taking responsibility, had the moral backbone to go down to Llanelli and defend his party's policies and those legally working in the hotel from vile attacks, instead of pathetically leaving it to others in the community to pick up the pieces.

I totally agree with the article - these are people seeking help and refuge and the far right racist bigots have no place in Llanelli, which has always been an open, warm, welcoming place. The UK government thrives on sowing division, hoping it'll be a vote winner. It needs to know it's not going to work in Llanelli.

Had more than enough of this nonsense now. Almost like a make work programme for journalists. If we are a ‘nation of sanctuary’ then that’s what we are. If not then make it a political issue and stand against candidates who support that in the next Senedd election.

This is a sorely needed article, and I’m sure I speak for many when I offer thanks to the anonymous author.

I am glad none of the racists hail from Llanelli,perhaps this is true.

Yes you can protest as shown by those on South Pembrokeshire when the then Home Secretary Priti Patel bypassed the Welsh Government , Senedd & Pembrokeshire council by placing over 300 asylum seekers in a dank army camp at the height of Covid. without consultation, proper PPE supplies only then to move them out and later cynically billing locals the cost of housing them. The same is occuring again where another fascist Home Secretary Suella Braverman is also bypassing the Welsh Government, Senedd Cymru and concerned locals. And it doesn't help when flames are fanned by Britain First who have buses supporters in as done in Pembrokeshire to spout their bilious hatred. And as others have stated. Those ugly scenes filmed recently played on social media are a micro minority of morons, bigots & self-hating racists. They are not representative those decent people in Llanelli also protesting not out of hated towards those asylum seekers but concern for their community, cost of housing them, and conditions of those fleeing oppression being dehumanised by this corrupt Conservative idocracy in Whitehall.

Absolutely agree with this article. Stella Braverman's sheer incompetence in dealing with this situation has landed Llanelli with an influx of far right, and, to put mildly, undesirables who claim, amongst other things that there will be an increase in criminal activity in the area and our streets won't be safe to walk on when the asylum seekers finally arrive. Well surprise, surprise its already happened, 17 arrests of mainly far right protestors, including one for carrying three knives, with more probably to follow and not a single asylum seeker in sight. A visit to this link will give an insight as to what the Home Office, Gryphon Leisure and Clearsprings have collectively landed on our doorstep. https://hopenothate.org.uk/2023/07/20/far-right-seek-to-exploit-campaign-against-asylum-seekers-accommodation-in-llanelli/