FEARS OVER MIGRANT WORKERS NOT RACIST; PM vows to tighten up rules.Byline: BOB ROBERTS PEOPLE should feel free to talk about immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. , Gordon Brown said yesterday. In a major speech the Prime Minister insisted it was wrong to brand people as racists who raised fears over the subject. He said Britain's population would not reach 70 million by 2029 as suggested by official statistics, and launched a review of visa rules and working rights for foreign students. Mr Brown admitted immigration was often seen as a threat where jobs are scarce and wages are falling. Speaking out after the British National Party
In the past Labour politicians have spoken out against people attacking immigration. But Mr Brown told an audience in London: "I have never agreed with the lazy elitism e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism n. 1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources. that portrays anyone who has concerns about immigration as a racist. It is a question to be dealt with at the heart of our politics." He added: "If you live in a town which hasn't seen much inward migration, you may worry about whether it will undermine wages and the job prospects of your children - and whether they will get housing." And he announced a clampdown clamp·down n. An imposing of restrictions or controls: "Advertisers and broadcasters would raise howls of protest against any strong clampdown" Wall Street Journal. on people applying to study in the UK with the aim of working illegally. But Sir Andrew Green, head of the MigrationWatch think tank said: "His government have brought three million immigrants to Britain and they will add another seven million to our population in 25 years. In this context the measures in his speech are trivial." CRIMINALS SET FREE THIRTY foreign prisoners at a British immigration removal centre were freed in a month - despite a pledge to "automatically" deport de·port tr.v. de·port·ed, de·port·ing, de·ports 1. To expel from a country. See Synonyms at banish. 2. To behave or conduct (oneself) in a given manner; comport. them. Home office figures show all were convicted of crimes in the UK but freed from the jail in Dover, Kent in July. Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "It is a joke. The effect is to make the streets of Kent less safe and shows Gordon Brown's promise of deportation was just spin." CAPTION(S): OPEN Gordon Brown says Immigration is not a taboo subject |
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