ANTI-RACISM and migrant rights campaigners have announced a protest against the Tories’ attempts to “whip up a frenzy of racism.”

The action on Monday follows Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s suggestion that the government should make it harder for people to seek asylum in Britain after the reported arrival of a hundred or so refugees since Christmas Day.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott called Mr Javid’s comments a “disgrace,” while the Refugee Council said it was “deeply concerning.”

Stand Up To Racism co-convenor Weyman Bennett said that Mr Javid’s “disgusting” reaction was “utterly disproportionate” and an attempt to “scapegoat and demonise refugees” for problems created by the government’s “austerity agenda.”

He said: “In reality, the number of crossings has decreased in recent months in Britain. It shows the level of detachment Tory politicians have from the reality of the lives of people struggling to survive in the most desperate conditions.”

Mr Bennett also questioned why a small number of people crossing the channel were treated as a major crisis but the government has done nothing about the crisis of record high homelessness, or the surge in people forced to rely on foodbanks.

Melanie Strickland of the Stansted 15 – controversially found guilty of terrorism for stopping a charter flight from taking off in 2017 – said Britain plays a “significant role” in creating the conditions causing people to flee their countries from war, poverty and climate change.

She said: “It’s obscene that instead of offering people who come to our country in desperation sanctuary and help, we demonise and criminalise them.”

Protesters will meet outside the Home Office in London on Monday January 7 at 6pm.