"Now did he get those signatures for being a rightwing thug?"

Yes he did. Sadly, that many people in the UK are prepared to excuse rightwing thuggery.

"Having worked in the south china sea at the tail end of the Vietnam war, I saw Vietnamese boat people firsthand."

And having lived in Australia for fair chunks of time, I have seen what they have become, what a success they have made of their lives, and how integrated they are. Ok, it wasn't always so good, shortly after they arrived with nothing there were some problems in the Cabramatta area, but now they are productive and valued members of society.