CAMPAIGNERS demonstrated against the far right in Llanelli at the weekend over Home Office plans to house over 200 refugees in a local hotel.

A Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) Llanelli spokesperson explained that the far-right had been active in stirring up anti-refugee racism.

“People are starting to see that the negative forces of the far right and the lies that they spread about asylum-seekers and refugees have no place in Llanelli and Wales.

“The asylum-seekers are just like all of us who need a place of sanctuary. Anyone can become an asylum-seeker, the war in Ukraine has shown that, it’s just a question of luck.”

Far-right groups like Patriotic Alternative and Voice of Wales have both used the hotel proposal to foster division, leading local MP Dame Nia Griffiths to appeal for calm. 

“What I would really stress to people is please don’t let anybody get hurt,” she said.

The choice of Stradey Park Hotel in the south Wales town has been controversial, with the town council and Unison Cymru/Wales condemning it as unsuitable accommodation for refugees.

Unison Cymru/Wales black members group chair Kebba Manneh said: “Unison fully supports refugees and people seeking asylum.

“As the biggest public service union in Wales, we will work with local authorities to ensure all shelters, hostels and council accommodation providers are adequately resourced to look after the welfare of residents.”

Llanelli town councillor Shaun Greaney explained the hotel was unsuitable for a large number of refugees.

“Llanelli is a welcoming community, but to site 300-plus refugees in one hotel is foolish and would be unsuitable accommodation for those fleeing war and persecution.”

Unison’s Wales convener Jan Tomlinson said: “Many refugees have suffered trauma and have to endure discrimination and racism.

“Unison condemns this treatment of people who are often fleeing countries torn apart by conflict and is committed to providing all support necessary to those in such a desperate situation.”  

SUTR Llanelli agreed that asylum-seekers and refugees needed to be housed in decent accommodation, not hotels.

“The decision to house asylum-seekers in hotels is a deliberate policy of the government, which hopes to see these people scapegoated in towns across Britain while the government continues to underfund public services,” the SUTR spokesperson said.