Brown portrays UKIP, BNP and the Conservatives as xenophobes on immigration

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8595973.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...enophobia.html

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stepped up his pre-election rhetoric on immigration by telling would-be illegal migrants: "You are not welcome." Mr Brown said there had been a significant drop in asylum claims and net immigration thanks to Labour's "tough and hard-headed" policy. But he warned against scaremongering and urged a "united front" among the main parties to combat xenophobia. The Tories said Mr Brown had "failed on immigration" and had no new ideas. Net immigration - the difference between those entering and leaving the country - has gone up from 47,500 when Labour came to power in 1997 to 163,000 in 2008, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Conservatives say they want to get it back down to mid-1990s levels - with the aid of an annual cap on work permits issued to people from outside the EU through the points-based migration system.

But Mr Brown sought to differentiate between the position of parties such as the BNP and UKIP and "mainstream parties" who he said share a consensus that immigration is a positive force in British society and a necessary contributor to economic growth. He told the audience "how we conduct this debate is as important as the debate itself". And he called on mainstream parties to unite against "those who want to end immigration not because of the pressures it places on our communities but simply because they don't like migrants". Giving his reaction to Mr Brown's speech, Conservative leader David Cameron said: "I'm delighted that the prime minister has converted to the cause of controlled migration, but people will wonder what he has been doing for the last few years."

The Lib Dems favour a policy of earned citizenship for illegal immigrants - dubbed an "amnesty" by their opponents. They also say they would channel skilled migrant workers to parts of the country where there are labour shortages, away from the overcrowded South-East of England. The big three parties are facing a general election challenge in some parts of the country from the UK Independence Party and the British National Party - both want to withdraw from the EU and introduce far tougher immigration policies. The BNP wants want an immediate end to all immigration to the UK, including from other EU countries, and a programme of "voluntary repatriation".

UKIP wants a five-year freeze on immigration for permanent settlement and work permits for EU citizens. The party's leader in Brussels, Nigel Farage, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One Labour has "lost control" of immigration but the UK would continue to have an "open door" while it was a member of the EU. If industries needed certain skilled workers during the 5-year freeze they would be given "a time specific work permit" but not the right to "settle in this country, bring their family and to contribute to what is now the most overcrowded country in Europe," said Mr Farage.

When all else fails they play the racism/xenophobic card, implying it at least. Not only is he directly attacking UKIP and the BNP on this issue but he is attacking the Conservatives also with the hidden message/warning that basically if you dont agree with the open door policy of Labour then you are a racist/xenophobe and has attacked Tory 'scare-tactics' on immigration. This man and his party have had since 1997 [13 years] to grapple this issue and strangely it is only now with an election weeks away that he pledges to be tough in immigration, more fool you if you fall for more of his lies. The Conservatives, while having a better policy than that of Labours (whether or not they'd implement this is another issue) are also stuck because they have no control what so ever over immigration from the European Union.

Controlling immigration - do you really believe him?

[GommeInc]

It is a poor card to pull out. However, immigration has been tackled quite hard lately by Labour, though there is always room for improvement. The problem with UKIP and BNP is that they sell themselves as a one trick pony, where they are only ever heard of through their immigration policies. Their other policies like saving the British pub and obviously more hard hitting policies are put on the back bench, though you could arguably say this is because the media only ever focus on these issues, and the big parties drive the public away from the other BNP/UKIP policies and openly mock them. If UKIP want to do anything, they should focus on their other policies and think about putting immigration on the back bench for a little while.

Let's not forget that UKIP and BNP are quite different. BNP are more controversial, while UKIP are actually pretty down to earth and see immigration as a short-term problem, though not a very wise idea suggesting closing the borders up completely for about 20 years. It only needs proper moderation, not shutting up shop (though this may not be true, that's the impression they give).

[-:Undertaker:-]

It is a poor card to pull out. However, immigration has been tackled quite hard lately by Labour, though there is always room for improvement. The problem with UKIP and BNP is that they sell themselves as a one trick pony, where they are only ever heard of through their immigration policies. Their other policies like saving the British pub and obviously more hard hitting policies are put on the back bench, though you could arguably say this is because the media only ever focus on these issues, and the big parties drive the public away from the other BNP/UKIP policies and openly mock them. If UKIP want to do anything, they should focus on their other policies and think about putting immigration on the back bench for a little while.

Let's not forget that UKIP and BNP are quite different. BNP are more controversial, while UKIP are actually pretty down to earth and see immigration as a short-term problem, though not a very wise idea suggesting closing the borders up completely for about 20 years. It only needs proper moderation, not shutting up shop (though this may not be true, that's the impression they give).

They say they have, but I think I read something a week or so ago which was an asylum seeker who actually got to Britain through the channel tunnel by walking and apparently we are paying for the French Calasis camp in which we cannot stop; as I understand it they get into Europe (EU) and then we have to take them as they are within the European Union. It is a total mess and all people want is a system like any other country has where we [Britain] has control over its own borders. Gordon and Labour have now had 13 years to sort this problem out, its that bad we dont even know how many illegals there are here now but its estimated to be approaching the 1 million mark now - think of the effects of crime that brings along with the effect on the NHS, police and others services.

Indeed, the last bit i'm not sure whether you mean the BNP or UKIP but UKIP policy is to have a 5-year freeze while we install a new system and deport any illegals/criminals and militants, then the borders would be re-opened only to those who we need (job wise) and those who will conform to our way of life (the western way) which would prevent these militants you see from gaining access.

[Hitman]

Ah bloody Gordon Brown! Does he not care about Britain? Immigration is good if controlled properly - we will soon be living in Britainistan.

[GommeInc]

Indeed, the last bit i'm not sure whether you mean the BNP or UKIP but UKIP policy is to have a 5-year freeze while we install a new system and deport any illegals/criminals and militants, then the borders would be re-opened only to those who we need (job wise) and those who will conform to our way of life (the western way) which would prevent these militants you see from gaining access.

Probably meant 5 years. Not sure where 20 years came from 5 years is quite along time though :/

[-:Undertaker:-]

Probably meant 5 years. Not sure where 20 years came from 5 years is quite along time though :/

Well they'd still allow visa applicants to come in for work but freeze the other parts of the system, afterall just under 1 million people to track, find, assess and deport is going to take a long time and hopefully it would be done (most of it anyway) within a 5 year term, one term of parliament in other words.

[MrPinkPanther]

I don't think you understand Undertaker. The government wants to and does deports illegal immigrants, that is the point, they are illegal. It's just impossible to track many of them because they have already assimilated into British culture and some illegals aren't even aware that they are illegal migrants because they were born here. You can't just suddenly say "UKIP will get rid of illegal immigrants" because all they can do is what Labour are doing at the moment except they will shut our borders proving detrimental to the economy. Also illegal immigrants place no strain on the welfare state because they aren't allowed service to it, the only way they could is if they committed crime which is highly doubtable because they wish to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I don't think you understand Undertaker. The government wants to and does deports illegal immigrants, that is the point, they are illegal. It's just impossible to track many of them because they have already assimilated into British culture and some illegals aren't even aware that they are illegal migrants because they were born here. You can't just suddenly say "UKIP will get rid of illegal immigrants" because all they can do is what Labour are doing at the moment except they will shut our borders proving detrimental to the economy. Also illegal immigrants place no strain on the welfare state because they aren't allowed service to it, the only way they could is if they committed crime which is highly doubtable because they wish to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

I do not think you understand. Firstly if the government really wanted to get rid of illegal immigrants, it would regain control of our borders back from the European Union and install proper border controls. Secondly if it wanted to get rid of illegal immigrants like you say then it would actually do so, rather than playing ball games with them and the courts over whether they should be able to stay or not. Illegal immigrants do place a strain on the welfare state because they can use fake IDs, they need houses and food anyway to survive so they are either committing crime (imagine the scope of that, 1 million people), working in jobs but not offically (in which case it would be rather simple for the government to track them down because you'd have somebody who doesnt 'exist' working in a job which does exist) and finally they are putting a strain on the state with the police, NHS and all other services.

As for shutting the borders;- they are proposing to shut them for only 5 years and we have 8 million unemployed here as it is at the moment so i'm afraid the economic argue really does not add up - to add to that the fact that they would still allow people to come and work here on visas would still benefit the economy. It is rather simple, its called control and its something we had over ourselves before the European Union took that away from us. The little control we had left, this government just destroyed. Take a look at the figures, they rocketed under Labour because Labour removed any controls left and made the benefits system even more generous and exploitable which made and still makes Britain the destination of choice.

As a Liberal Democrat and being to the left of the scale, I know the words 'controlled' & 'immigration' are hard to string together, if not impossible.

[Inseriousity.]

I think controlled immigration is a good idea (and should really be happening anyway!) but illegal immigrants are inevitable. I don't think even the BNP could keep out illegal immigrants determined to get into the country; they'll just find new and more infallible methods of doing so. However, despite what the media says, the amount of non-White British is still tiny (5%, I think, this might have changed) when compared to the whole population.

[MissAlice]

We lack skills in controlling benefits, we don’t have the right procedures in place to record when someone who is receiving benefits is sent to prison, and similarly this also applies to immigrants. We need to get a proper grip, it was recently published that we had paid out some £27 million in benefits to criminals.

It's been revealed that £6million was overpaid to criminals behind bars in 2008/09, a 50 per cent rise over the £4million figure the year before.

Some £7 million was overpaid in 2006/07, £4 million in 2005/06 and £6 million in 2004/05 - a total of £27 million in the last five years.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0jn5f8xPS

A LANDMARK ruling that allows jobless migrants to claim benefits in Britain for their children living in their home country sparked outrage last night.

Critics warned the judgment could "open the door" to thousands of benefits tourists abusing generous payouts in Britain.

In yesterday’s High Court ruling " showing how EU law is taking precedence over the UK"s " a Portuguese national living in Britain won a legal battle for child benefit for his two daughters in his home country despite no longer working and claiming incapacity benefit here.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...hildren-abroad

As someone described it, it’s a kick in the teeth to all those hard working Britons. Is it any wonder the kitty is running dry and the Labour government did talk about a death tax?

This headline makes my blood boil. What was the cost to taxpayers?
A government blunder allowed a convicted rapist to win the right to get married in Britain - and avoid deportation by just two hours.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0jnBL92kB

When we do eventually deport, it’s not difficult to come back within hours.

Look whose back! Red faces at the Home Office as Algerian bag snatcher who has been deported twice is arrested yet again.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0jnHN8nmh


We need to get control of the situation, because right now we are the welfare for the world.