𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Councils have been told to “focus on fixing roads” rather than “pushing ideological messages” after reportedly screening pro-migrant films. The short films are said to have been played by London councils at taxpayer-funded ‘Refugee Week’ events.

One film, titled ‘Migrants’, purportedly centres on an adult and child polar bear who are attacked by locals in a foreign land and deported after fleeing their home due to climate change. The younger bear is later shown washed up on a beach. The film is apparently one of four pro-migrant shorts included in the Refugee Week’s Film Festival lineup.

William Yarwood, campaign director at The TaxPayers’ Alliance, criticised the film screenings and called on authorities to reveal the associated costs.

Speaking to GB News, which broke the story, he said: “Council taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll political film screenings dressed up as community events.

“Town halls should focus on fixing roads and collecting bins, not pushing ideological messages.

“Councils must reveal the full cost and explain why residents were made to pay for it.”

According to GB News, Labour-led Islington Borough Council showed the film Migrants last Tuesday.

Waltham Forest Borough Council, which is run by the Greens, also reportedly promoted a similar event later that week.

The theme for this year’s Refugee Week was courage, encouraging children to “build understanding, empathy and awareness of refugee experiences – learning that stays with them long into adulthood”.

Refugee Week describes itself as “the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary”.

On its website, it says the Film Festival is a “curated programme of films from across the world that organisations and individuals can screen for free during Refugee Week”.

It says Refugee Week is a “community-powered festival shaped by individuals, artists, schools, libraries, venues, local authorities, cultural institutions, grassroots organisations and more”.

Refugee Week was founded in the UK in 1998 and takes place annually around World Refugee Day (June 20).

Organisers say more than two million people take part across more than 20 countries.

Islington Borough Council and Waltham Forest Borough Council were approached for comment by GB News.