Ben Whitham
@drbenwhitham.bsky.social
Senior Policy and Research Officer at Refugee Action | Research Associate at SOAS | Assistant Instructor at Tiger Crane Kung Fu, London | Trade unionist, martial artist, antifascist. Views my own.
https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/ben-whitham
https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/ben-whitham
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Thanks to extreme process-as-punishment measures, many people have suffered greatly for defying this ban, even if they have not been convicted, or will now have their convictions quashed.
It all points to a very grim conclusion: democracy in the UK is being stifled.
By a Labour government.
It all points to a very grim conclusion: democracy in the UK is being stifled.
By a Labour government.
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Thanks to extreme process-as-punishment measures, many people have suffered greatly for defying this ban, even if they have not been convicted, or will now have their convictions quashed.
It all points to a very grim conclusion: democracy in the UK is being stifled.
By a Labour government.
It all points to a very grim conclusion: democracy in the UK is being stifled.
By a Labour government.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Nearly 3,000 peaceful people have been arrested under this outrageous ban.
It was brought in after lobbying by arms companies and Netanyahu's government.
It has been condemned by UN rapporteurs and many other experts.
All the while, our government has been collaborating in real state terrorism.
It was brought in after lobbying by arms companies and Netanyahu's government.
It has been condemned by UN rapporteurs and many other experts.
All the while, our government has been collaborating in real state terrorism.
February 13, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Nearly 3,000 peaceful people have been arrested under this outrageous ban.
It was brought in after lobbying by arms companies and Netanyahu's government.
It has been condemned by UN rapporteurs and many other experts.
All the while, our government has been collaborating in real state terrorism.
It was brought in after lobbying by arms companies and Netanyahu's government.
It has been condemned by UN rapporteurs and many other experts.
All the while, our government has been collaborating in real state terrorism.
such democracy! so liberal!
February 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM
such democracy! so liberal!
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Well, that's pretty certain to violate a number of international laws. What it isn't going to do is stop people seeking asylum in Europe, just as the EUs latest spectacularly inhumane "offshoring" proposals won't. All it does is shift routes, likely to even more dangerous ones which cost more lives.
February 12, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Well, that's pretty certain to violate a number of international laws. What it isn't going to do is stop people seeking asylum in Europe, just as the EUs latest spectacularly inhumane "offshoring" proposals won't. All it does is shift routes, likely to even more dangerous ones which cost more lives.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
I just completed this consultation. I’m disgusted at the extreme and punitive changes being proposed and I am also incensed at the grossly punitive and divisive way the consultation itself is structured /-/ questions focus either on how much should we further punish migrants,
The UK government is proposing radical and punitive changes to settlement rules. This is settlement, not citizenship. The consultation is open until 12 February; please respond to it and oppose these evil proposals. Amnesty have a good guide: www.amnesty.org.uk/resources/gu...
Guidance for responding to 'A Fairer Pathway to Settlement' consultation
We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk
February 10, 2026 at 2:06 PM
I just completed this consultation. I’m disgusted at the extreme and punitive changes being proposed and I am also incensed at the grossly punitive and divisive way the consultation itself is structured /-/ questions focus either on how much should we further punish migrants,
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Israel is a top 10 global arms exporter. In 2024 arms exports rose to $14.9 billion, with 54% of those purchases made by Europe (MOD data). The UK spends millions of pounds each year on “battle-tested” arms from Israeli companies.
This 👇 is what "battle-tested means".
This 👇 is what "battle-tested means".
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Israel is a top 10 global arms exporter. In 2024 arms exports rose to $14.9 billion, with 54% of those purchases made by Europe (MOD data). The UK spends millions of pounds each year on “battle-tested” arms from Israeli companies.
This 👇 is what "battle-tested means".
This 👇 is what "battle-tested means".
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Good to see some Labour MPs showing a backbone, but the problems with these proposals on settlement aren't limited to being applied retrospectively: they also favour the well-off, discriminate vs disabled people, women & people with caring responsibilities and are probably unworkable
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Good to see some Labour MPs showing a backbone, but the problems with these proposals on settlement aren't limited to being applied retrospectively: they also favour the well-off, discriminate vs disabled people, women & people with caring responsibilities and are probably unworkable
Reposted by Ben Whitham
"The proposals would extend insecurity for families, with damaging consequences for integration, educational opportunities and child poverty." @ippr.org
Pushing more people onto this punishing route will only entrench the hardship people in our community already face. This is not the answer.
Pushing more people onto this punishing route will only entrench the hardship people in our community already face. This is not the answer.
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM
"The proposals would extend insecurity for families, with damaging consequences for integration, educational opportunities and child poverty." @ippr.org
Pushing more people onto this punishing route will only entrench the hardship people in our community already face. This is not the answer.
Pushing more people onto this punishing route will only entrench the hardship people in our community already face. This is not the answer.
The Cranston Inquiry into the deaths of at least 30 people in the Channel in November 2021 today reported that "There was a widely held belief among HM Coastguard personnel that callers from small boats regularly exaggerated their level of distress". This is evident in emergency call transcripts.
February 5, 2026 at 12:49 PM
The Cranston Inquiry into the deaths of at least 30 people in the Channel in November 2021 today reported that "There was a widely held belief among HM Coastguard personnel that callers from small boats regularly exaggerated their level of distress". This is evident in emergency call transcripts.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
“Half a million people we live with every day, at the market, on the bus, at our children’s school. People who care for our parents, work in the fields, who have built, hand in hand with us, the progress of our country”.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Spanish PM defends plans to regularise half a million undocumented migrants
Responding to critics of policy, Pedro Sánchez says Spain is choosing path of ‘dignity, community and justice’
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:59 AM
“Half a million people we live with every day, at the market, on the bus, at our children’s school. People who care for our parents, work in the fields, who have built, hand in hand with us, the progress of our country”.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
The way he stresses that people protesting the genocide of Palestinians joining the Green party will change its "complexion" is... well, "dog-whistle" would imply a level of subtlety that's just not there.
This bastion of moral virtue has opinions about the Green Party.
Just remember that as they continue to attack us.
This is who they are. Mask is off.
Just remember that as they continue to attack us.
This is who they are. Mask is off.
February 3, 2026 at 9:09 AM
The way he stresses that people protesting the genocide of Palestinians joining the Green party will change its "complexion" is... well, "dog-whistle" would imply a level of subtlety that's just not there.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
"I'm coming to Boston and I'm bringing hell with me."
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
Homan: "I begged for the last two months on TV for the rhetoric to stop. I said in March -- if the rhetoric doesn't stop, there is gonna be bloodshed. And there has been. I wish I wasn't right. I don't want to see anybody die."
January 29, 2026 at 3:32 PM
"I'm coming to Boston and I'm bringing hell with me."
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Couldn’t access? That’s a baby with a stuffie.
She was denied access — killed — by agents of the US government who hold babies in detention & torture them to death. Sickle cell is horribly painful.
If this is what passes for decency among politicians there really is no hope for us.
SHAME.
She was denied access — killed — by agents of the US government who hold babies in detention & torture them to death. Sickle cell is horribly painful.
If this is what passes for decency among politicians there really is no hope for us.
SHAME.
Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez died in government custody.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
January 28, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Couldn’t access? That’s a baby with a stuffie.
She was denied access — killed — by agents of the US government who hold babies in detention & torture them to death. Sickle cell is horribly painful.
If this is what passes for decency among politicians there really is no hope for us.
SHAME.
She was denied access — killed — by agents of the US government who hold babies in detention & torture them to death. Sickle cell is horribly painful.
If this is what passes for decency among politicians there really is no hope for us.
SHAME.
The newly announced Reform candidate for Gorton and Denton, echoing Enoch Powell's explicit racism a couple of months ago. For these white supremacists, UK citizenship is merely a "piece of paper", and Black and Brown people will never be *truly* British.
January 27, 2026 at 5:27 PM
The newly announced Reform candidate for Gorton and Denton, echoing Enoch Powell's explicit racism a couple of months ago. For these white supremacists, UK citizenship is merely a "piece of paper", and Black and Brown people will never be *truly* British.
the Greens are the clear favourite with all bookies to win Gorton and Denton, but the story everywhere is Labour "gifting" the seat to Reform by blocking Burnham - apparently it doesn't matter that this is not a reflection of reality, since it better fits the established media line
January 27, 2026 at 12:35 PM
the Greens are the clear favourite with all bookies to win Gorton and Denton, but the story everywhere is Labour "gifting" the seat to Reform by blocking Burnham - apparently it doesn't matter that this is not a reflection of reality, since it better fits the established media line
Reposted by Ben Whitham
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
January 27, 2026 at 11:19 AM
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
This would not happen in a democracy, which is why, if we are serious about our commitment to it, we must accept we do not currently live in democracies and that moving towards such a system would require radical change rather than faith in the status quo
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
Governments opting for oligarchy while brutally repressing protests over austerity and lack of jobs, charity report says
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:34 AM
This would not happen in a democracy, which is why, if we are serious about our commitment to it, we must accept we do not currently live in democracies and that moving towards such a system would require radical change rather than faith in the status quo
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Ben Whitham
According to IOM Libya, 394 people were intercepted and returned to Libya from 11 to 17 January 2026.
📣A reminder that people pushed back to Libya by EU-funded Libyan authorities are sent to detention centres, where they face exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, and sexual violence.
📣A reminder that people pushed back to Libya by EU-funded Libyan authorities are sent to detention centres, where they face exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, and sexual violence.
January 19, 2026 at 1:38 PM
According to IOM Libya, 394 people were intercepted and returned to Libya from 11 to 17 January 2026.
📣A reminder that people pushed back to Libya by EU-funded Libyan authorities are sent to detention centres, where they face exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, and sexual violence.
📣A reminder that people pushed back to Libya by EU-funded Libyan authorities are sent to detention centres, where they face exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, and sexual violence.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
ICYMI over the weekend @hebagowayed.bsky.social and I made the case for abolishing ICE in @us.theguardian.com.
It’s not controversial to say an out of control agency that tear-gasses kids and shoots moms in the head shouldn’t exist. It’s basic decency.
It’s not controversial to say an out of control agency that tear-gasses kids and shoots moms in the head shouldn’t exist. It’s basic decency.
In the first of what's likely to be many collaborations with @hebagowayed.bsky.social (and my @us.theguardian.com debut) we argue that abolishing ICE would be a good start.
Abolishing ICE isn’t enough – it’s time to center people’s humanity | Heba Gowayed and Victor Ray
It’s far from radical to reject a system predicated on violence – despite what thinktanks might claim
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:36 PM
ICYMI over the weekend @hebagowayed.bsky.social and I made the case for abolishing ICE in @us.theguardian.com.
It’s not controversial to say an out of control agency that tear-gasses kids and shoots moms in the head shouldn’t exist. It’s basic decency.
It’s not controversial to say an out of control agency that tear-gasses kids and shoots moms in the head shouldn’t exist. It’s basic decency.
Reposted by Ben Whitham
"Mr Prime Minister, the President of the US is continuing to threaten a NATO ally, what do you say?"
"Zack Polanski and Ed Davey should stop posting on social media and be more like Kemi Badenoch"
"Zack Polanski and Ed Davey should stop posting on social media and be more like Kemi Badenoch"
![Starmer criticises politicians who have responded to Greenland crisis with 'grandstanding'
Starmer concludes by welcoming the stance taken by Kemi Badenoch on Greenland.
But, he goes on:
[In] moments like this there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work.
That’s an understandable instinct, but it’s not effective. It never has been.
It may make politicians feel good, but it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships that we build across the world.
This seems to be a jibe at people like Ed Davey and Zack Polanski.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gijpigvolh7hrcizybpe2fxu/bafkreiey4znxleomp36bekmzqhfylwelf5dg2daftwctlo74mmydfycsa4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 10:28 AM
"Mr Prime Minister, the President of the US is continuing to threaten a NATO ally, what do you say?"
"Zack Polanski and Ed Davey should stop posting on social media and be more like Kemi Badenoch"
"Zack Polanski and Ed Davey should stop posting on social media and be more like Kemi Badenoch"
Reposted by Ben Whitham
„Since the Gaza ceasefire was announced, 100 days ago, on 8 October, Israel's military attacks continue. Over 440 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. Over 2,500 residential buildings have been destroyed, leaving people forced into displacement. Severe restrictions on aid inflows persist.“
🚨Despite the first phase of a fragile ceasefire being in place, people in Gaza are still being deliberately deprived of water. We must be allowed to respond at scale. Read more: bit.ly/4pJkfks
January 18, 2026 at 11:55 AM
„Since the Gaza ceasefire was announced, 100 days ago, on 8 October, Israel's military attacks continue. Over 440 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. Over 2,500 residential buildings have been destroyed, leaving people forced into displacement. Severe restrictions on aid inflows persist.“
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Mubashir and his family came to the United States as refugees from Ethiopia when he was a child, and they all became naturalized citizens in 2019.
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
January 17, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Mubashir and his family came to the United States as refugees from Ethiopia when he was a child, and they all became naturalized citizens in 2019.
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Last February, the Texas Observer investigation revealed the identity of James Rodden, an ICE attorney who operates an openly white supremacist account on X. This year, we proved he's back in court trying immigration cases:
ICE Prosecutor Who Runs Racist X Account Returns to Dallas Immigration Court
James Rodden, identified by the Observer last year as the operator of an account that routinely posted hateful statements, appeared to be back at work Tuesday.
www.texasobserver.org
January 16, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Last February, the Texas Observer investigation revealed the identity of James Rodden, an ICE attorney who operates an openly white supremacist account on X. This year, we proved he's back in court trying immigration cases:
Reposted by Ben Whitham
Murder. And not just the one who pulled the trigger.
Holy shit.
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Live Updates: Newly Released Records Detail Chaos During Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Murder. And not just the one who pulled the trigger.