A desperate, opportunist press and vicious politicians: no wonder the debate on refugees is so awful | Jane Martinson

Sat, 30 Aug 2025

Migration is one of the most important issues of our time and needs serious consideration. History will damn much of the UK media for failing to do that

At the end of August the Sun put a picture of a pink poodle-shaped balloon on its front page, not to illustrate the last dog days of summer but the latest migrant hotel scandal, a story that has dominated the UK news agenda for weeks. In this case, the “balloonacy” of teaching hobbies to asylum seekers.

The silly season, in which the press seeks to entertain readers with lighter news during the summer, is cancelled this year.

Jane Martinson is professor of financial journalism at City St George’s and a member of the board of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian Media Group