Polish Morecambe mum's anger over racist jibes

A Morecambe landlady has told how she has been a victim of racism in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the EU.
Sylwia Borowska with one of the children she has helped in Istanbul, Turkey.Sylwia Borowska with one of the children she has helped in Istanbul, Turkey.
Sylwia Borowska with one of the children she has helped in Istanbul, Turkey.

Polish mum Sylwia Borowska revealed she has been subjected to hurtful comments based on her nationality – even from 
somebody she saw as a friend.

Sylwia spoke out days after Lancaster City Council vowed to get tough on race hate crime in our district.

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The 43-year-old, who has lived in the UK for 12 years, described the vote to leave the European Union as “horrendous” for foreign EU nationals living in Britain like herself.

Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.
Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.

Scotland Yard has reported a rise in race hate crime since the result was announced with 599 incidents between June 24 and July 2.

Although Ms Borowska has not reported to the police any of the incidents she experienced, she said they made her “really angry”.

“I had one situation, it was my mate,” she said.

“He asked me shortly after the result if I am going, if I am packing.

Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.
Sylwia Borowska in Istanbul, Turkey.
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“He has said to me before, are you not deported yet? I was really angry.”

Ms Borowska, who runs a pub in Morecambe, said her friend also made a xenophobic joke about the fire at the former Ranch House pub earlier this month.

“It burned down and he said to me ‘don’t you think they burned the wrong pub?’

“So I said what, why? And he said, ‘oh I don’t know, because you’re Polish’.

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“He was thinking it was funny. This is where the stupidity comes from, so I just walked away.

“My neighbours started laughing the day after Brexit saying, everyone is going home, the Polish!

“They asked if China was in the EU. I can’t believe the stupidity of people.”

Sylwia said she was upset when Britain voted to leave the EU on June 24.

“I thought the referendum result was horrendous.

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“Britain played into (Russia’s President) Putin’s hands, he wants us divided because the EU is too strong for him.

“We don’t know what the government will do, we can’t go back home, we are not refugees, our home is here.

“You have no place to go but nobody cares about that. I think we will all become refugees, prisoners in our own countries.”

If you have witnessed or been a victim of hate crime you can report it online via www.stophateuk.org or call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.