Reform politician's 'asylum' claim about English people draws backlash
Jaymey McIvor's assertion that English people are claiming asylum in the Home Counties prompts mockery and criticism of LBC's editorial judgment.
What to know
- Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor claimed English people are claiming asylum in the Home Counties, a statement that conflates internal migration with asylum claims.
- LBC host Shelagh Fogarty immediately challenged the logic by asking if people had simply moved house.
- Commenters overwhelmingly criticize both McIvor's claim and LBC's decision to air it, viewing the platform as amplifying incoherent rhetoric to a mass audience.
The dispute Whether platforming absurd claims serves to discredit them through exposure or amplifies them to a receptive audience. · positions read across 124 posts and comments
LBC should not platform Reform politicians who peddle absurd or bigoted rhetoric.
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“I'm sorry but these people shouldn't be asked on to give their views. I think we are perfectly able to hear from a range of opinions without sinking to this level.”
jonloveridge.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
McIvor's claim is logically incoherent—people moving within the UK cannot claim asylum.
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“You can't claim asylum in your own country.”
kennie1031.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Platforming incoherent claims may backfire by making the absurdity visible to wider audiences.
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“I'm torn here, I'm thinking people like that shouldn't be given air time, on the other hand I'm thinking he's that ridiculous it will make people aware of how bad Reform are.”
saintyick.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Jaymey McIvor Reform UK councillorShelagh Fogarty LBC radio host
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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Bluesky users criticize both McIvor and LBC's decision to platform him
Comments flood in attacking McIvor's statement as nonsensical and criticizing LBC for giving airtime to what multiple commenters characterize as absurd or bigoted rhetoric. The core complaint centers on editorial judgment rather than substantive disagreement.
“I'm sorry but these people shouldn't be asked on to give their views. I think we are perfectly able to hear from a range of opinions without sinking to this level.”
— jonloveridge.bsky.social -
I’m sorry but these people shouldn’t be asked on to give their views. I think we are perfectly able to hear from a range of opinions without sinking to this level. Just absurd nonsense. Helps no one. Either makes people angry or less informed
2 more of the top 3 · 123 posts in this stretch
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Do not give these idiotic wankers airtime. Anyone with half a brain may well mock them and find it amusing. The rest of the knobheads think he's making a great point. This is why we are at this stage as a country.
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Councillors from other parties never get as much airtime as this lot do.
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McIvor claims English people are claiming asylum in Home Counties
Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor appeared on LBC radio and stated that English people are claiming asylum in the Home Counties due to out-of-control immigration. Host Shelagh Fogarty immediately questioned the logic of the claim.
“English people are claiming asylum in the Home Counties due to 'out of control immigration'.”
— Jaymey McIvor -
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Reform's Jaymey McIvor says 'English people are claiming asylum in the Home Counties' due to 'out of control immigration'. 'Did they not just move house?' Shelagh Fogarty asks him.
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What people are saying 20 voices from 1 site · best of 124 · verbatim
- Sep 24
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racists have been moving out of east London for years - Clacton is full of them. Suits me, I don't want to live among racists.
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Ex-Tory candidate accused of sending unsolicited image of his ‘private parts’ This article is more than 1 year old Jaymey McIvor, Reform UK’s first Essex councillor, was suspended from Conservatives last year amid claims
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Bravo to the local Labour councillor who emailed the little twerp telling him to “fuck off you tedious little shit”.
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23% of British people want to vote for these corrupt, racist dumb fucks? What is wrong with this country?
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Isn’t this the guy that send unsolicited dick pics to his female colleagues? It ain’t immigrants our women need protecting from!
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Did anyone ask him about whether people are uncomfortable around, say, a pervert who was kicked out of another party for sending someone an unsolicited picture of their dick?
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You really should stop giving these idiots airtime.
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unfortunately we're a country that celebrates stupidity & being "a bit thick..." He'll be hailed as a hero 🙄
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Stop platforming these fucking dickheads. They've got 8 fucking MPs. 8...
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Why Reform again, LBC? Reform UK already have their own radio station.
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Probably stop asking whiny, idiotic, racist snowflakes on to national media shows. They are an embarrassment to the country.
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I'm torn here, I'm thinking people like that shouldn't be given air time, on the other hand I'm thinking he's that ridiculous it will make people aware of how bad Reform are.
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These people are complete imbeciles aren't they? They are now saying people moving from one place to another in the UK are claiming asylum!! It is pathetic and they need to grow up. But luckily the British people are catching onto their BS because Reform are not 3rd in most polls!!
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Why has LBC given air time to a racist bigot this utter diatribe could have easily been said in 1930 s Germany at Nuremberg during a rally. Just change the words to German people are claiming asylum in Bavaria. QED.
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As well as being a fascist lieing ignorant thick prick . He must be the most stupidest person in Britain. You can't claim asylum in your own country.
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If people travelling from France in dingy can't claim asylum because there's "no war in France" then people moving to the Hone Countries can't claim asylum for exactly the same reason, just turn their own logic in on them.
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Fleeing England to live in England 🤷♂️
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People also move out from the centre of London due to the costs. Not because they're "claiming asylum". Tsk.
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To quote Ellie from the Last of us, these people are fucking nuts.
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He's trying so hard to make his non-point that it's painful