In episode two of Bear and Monk Debunk, Emma Monk and I spent some time taking apart some of the most persistent myths around immigration, benefits and the so-called “perks” that asylum seekers apparently get.
Fair warning, we’re still very much in the “does this work if we try it this way?” phase of the podcast, and this episode is part of that process - so on top of the feedback all of you have already given, we would absolutely appreciate any further thoughts you had.
In a very brief summary, over approximately 40 minutes or so, we talk through some of the most familiar claims (“migrants are just coming here to take our benefits!”) and very briefly clarify who can (and who can’t) claim benefits.
A big part of the conversation focuses on “perks”: leisure cards, driving lessons, PlayStations, holidays - you’ll all be very familiar with the stories that resurface every few months, usually accompanied by a photograph of a dinghy arriving in Dover, and the not at all subtle implication that the system is being taken for a ride.
Emma has also previously put together a full, properly sourced list of these so-called “perks” on her Substack, which is well worth reading alongside the episode - and you can do so right below here.
We also spend some time on why this kind of misinformation spreads so easily, why it sticks, and why outlets like the Daily Mail continue to treat badly contextualised anecdotes as a substitute for reporting. Meanwhile, my own long-standing nemesis - the ostrich - makes a brief appearance too, because it turns out nonsense follows surprisingly consistent rules.
We sincerely hope you enjoy listening to the podcast as much as we did making it. If you would like to support this work, we have set up a Ko-Fi account for Bear and Monk Debunk where you can support us in making this podcast.
Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to us chat, wishing everyone a lovely week.
All the best,
Bear and Emma
