A social media blitz to scare Albanian migrants from crossing the Channel exhibits outlets lined in graffiti, squalid flats and flytipping, it has emerged.
The Histori Nga Britania (Stories from Britain) marketing campaign on Instagram, Facebook and TikTookay options Albanians complaining about how costly lodging is and their experiences of discrimination.
The posts are illustrated by black and white photos of closed shopfronts lined in graffiti, flats in a state of disrepair and lumps of damaged furnishings dumped subsequent to a housing property.
The marketing campaign additionally consists of posts highlighting Albania, together with one known as “Love North Albania”. These embrace photos of lovely Albanian countryside and conventional meals.
William Yarwood, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, mentioned: “Taxpayers will be seriously concerned to see their hard-earned cash being spent on a secretive PR campaign that talks Britain down.
“Tackling illegal migration should rightly be a top priority for the Government but it should focus on stronger border controls, not dodgy, ineffective spin.
“Ministers need to ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently and effectively, not wasted on costly gimmicks.”.
In one video, an Albanian migrant known as Jonel mentioned: “I came here with a visa. There have been many changes, especially in the last eight years due to Brexit and some other changes because of the pandemic we went through.
“Many things have changed, and the cost of living has become very high.”
In one other, a graduate named Vera mentioned she struggled to get into her chosen business and has suffered from discrimination whereas within the UK.
She mentioned: “I am working a full-time job in hospitality. This industry is not related at all to what I studied, nor to any of the fields that I studied.
“It is difficult to adapt, it is difficult to succeed in this whole world that has so much competition.
“And besides that, there is discrimination, the mindset that people have about Albanians. It is not a very positive mindset. To live in England is very difficult.”
The social media marketing campaign is being run by TAG International, a global growth consultancy based mostly in Westminster.
A Government spokesperson mentioned: “This account is not run by the UK Government and the views it promotes are from individuals from the Albanian diaspora and those who have returned to Albania. Tackling irregular migration and protecting Britain’s borders is a priority for this government.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2014758/Channel-migrants-asylum-Labour-fury-Albania