A Collective Response from Over 100 Organisations, Including The William Gomes Podcast
In April 2026, more than 100 organisations across the United Kingdom issued a joint public statement, coordinated by Rainbow Migration, raising serious concerns about recent BBC reporting on immigration and asylum.
The William Gomes Podcast is proud to stand among the signatories.
This collective statement argues that aspects of the reporting risk causing real harm to communities that are already systemically marginalised, including migrants, refugees, LGBTQI+ individuals, and survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence.
Why This Statement Matters
Public discourse is not neutral. Media narratives influence policy, shape public opinion, and directly affect the lived experiences of vulnerable groups.
The signatories highlight that the BBC investigation amplified a small number of bad-faith actors offering fraudulent immigration advice. While such conduct should be condemned, the concern lies in how isolated cases were presented.
Framing these cases as indicative of a broader systemic issue risks:
- distorting public understanding
- undermining trust in legitimate asylum claims
- reinforcing harmful stereotypes
At a time of rising far-right rhetoric and increasingly restrictive immigration policies, such narratives can have serious, real-world consequences.
The Reality of the UK Asylum System
For those navigating the UK asylum system, the challenges are profound:
- The system is complex and difficult to understand
- Processes are often retraumatising for applicants
- Outcomes frequently depend on access to specialist legal advice
However, sustained cuts to legal aid have created a critical gap in accessible, high-quality immigration advice.
This has left many individuals without proper representation, increasing the likelihood of:
- incorrect refusals
- prolonged uncertainty
- heightened vulnerability
LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers: A Critical Lifeline
For LGBTQI+ individuals, asylum is often a matter of survival.
Globally, nearly 70 countries criminalise same-sex relationships. Many individuals flee:
- imprisonment
- torture
- the threat of death
Upon arrival in the UK, they face a system that frequently requires them to “prove” their identity. This is particularly challenging for individuals who have spent years concealing who they are in order to stay safe.
As a result, many LGBTQI+ asylum seekers encounter:
- disbelief from decision-makers
- invasive evidential demands
- inconsistent outcomes
Survivors of Abuse: Structural Barriers to Safety
For survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence, immigration routes can provide life-saving protection.
Yet the statement highlights persistent systemic barriers, including:
- delays in accessing support
- disbelief of survivor testimonies
- exclusion from essential services due to No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
These barriers place individuals at continued risk, undermining the protective purpose of the system.
The Risk of Harmful Reporting
The joint statement makes clear that irresponsible or disproportionate reporting can:
- discourage individuals from seeking asylum or protection
- increase stigma toward already marginalised groups
- contribute to policy environments driven by fear rather than evidence
Such outcomes are not hypothetical. They directly affect whether individuals feel safe enough to come forward and access support.
A Call for Responsible Journalism and Policy Reform
The signatories call for a shift in both media practice and government policy.
For Media Organisations:
- Ensure reporting is evidence-based and proportionate
- Avoid generalising from isolated cases
- Centre the voices and lived experiences of affected communities
For Government:
- Restore and adequately fund legal aid services
- Improve access to reliable, regulated immigration advice
- Reduce systemic barriers that prevent individuals from being believed and supported
The emphasis is clear: meaningful change requires structural accountability, not sensationalism.
Organisations Standing Together
This statement is supported by a broad coalition of organisations working across migration, human rights, LGBTQI+ advocacy, and survivor support sectors.
Key signatories include:
Rainbow Migration; Micro Rainbow; Migrants Organise; LGBT Health and Wellbeing; West End Refugee Service; ACH; Asylum Matters; City of Sanctuary UK; Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard; Equality Network and Scottish Trans; Refugee Employment Network; Sahir House; Open Door North East; Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council; Asylum Support Appeals Project; FODI; Refugee Action; ReportOUT; LGBT+ Consortium; NACCOM; Voices in Exile; Asylos; South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice; The William Gomes Podcast; Reset Communities for Refugees; Trauma Foundation South West; Rape Crisis Scotland; Human Rights Solidarity; Routes; Reunite Families UK; Body & Soul; Shakti Women’s Aid; Borderlands South West; Beyond Detention; The Launchpad Collective CIO; BARAC UK; Boaz Trust; Community InfoSource; MEWSO; Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit; Hope Projects; Hackney Migrant Centre; Doctors of the World UK; Kairos; Darlington Assistance for Refugee; ATLEU; Baobab Women’s Project; No Recourse North East Partnership; Employment Legal Advice Network; Women for Refugee Women; LASS; Derbyshire LGBT+; Southampton Action; Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum; FLEX; IRMO; Trade Sexual Health; Humans for Rights Network; Refugee Council; Asylum Justice; STAR; Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association; Refugee & Migrant Justice; West London Welcome; Displaced People in Action; Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network; Status Now 4 All; AVID; Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network; Herts Welcomes Refugees; Trade Sexual Healthy; WYDAB; Held Collective; LGBT Foundation; PERN; Law Centre NI; SYMAAG; QTIBPOC Cinema Club; LEAP Sports Scotland; Solace; Bristol Refugee Rights; ASSIST Sheffield; Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants; Queer Migrant Pride Fest; LGBT Youth Scotland; Jesuit Refugee Service UK; Refugees at Home; Rainbow Refugees NI; Out in Cov; Glitter Cymru; Public Law Project; Newham Poetry Group; Time to be Out; HERe NI; Siblings of Marsha; Conversation Over Borders; Care4Calais; End Deportations Belfast; Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign; Scottish Refugee Council; Sheffield Radical Pride; Abigail Housing; SEREDA Project (University of Birmingham); Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre; Communities Together Durham; Project Resist; Grampian Regional Equality Council; United Against Racism Belfast.
Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility
This joint statement is not simply a critique of a single report. It is a broader intervention into how narratives about migration, identity, and vulnerability are constructed and circulated.
When reporting misrepresents marginalised communities, the consequences extend beyond headlines. They shape policy, influence access to justice, and affect whether individuals feel safe enough to seek help.
The message from over 100 organisations is unequivocal:
Accuracy, dignity, and accountability must remain central to public discourse.
