FT immigration comment gets the EU point

John Page · 08-08-2006, 08:11 AM

This is subscribers only on the FT website, so I'm having to type it. Apologies for typos, therefore. My emphasis.

Quote:

Reid: on horns of migration dilemma
David Owen

John Reid, home secretary, has certainly taken the bull by the horns in the potentially explosive national debate over immigration.

By suggesting that an independent committee would recommend an "optimum" level of migration, he has put the notion of setting a limit on numbers ebtering the country squarely on the political agenda.

As a neophyte in matters of immigration politics, I must be careful how I tread. Nonetheless, on one level, I find the idea of a limit on migration slightly absurd, not to say of dubious morality.

For one thing, having once opened our doors, how can we now regulate the flow of people from other European Union member states - including, but certainly not restricted to, Polish plumbers - coming to live and work in this country? We might deny workers from Romania and Bulgaria the same access, but what about member states where access has already been granted?

Then there are asylum seekers. Would they be included in any system? If so, what would happen to deserving cases once available numbers had been exhausted? If they are not included, wouldn't that further undermine the concept of a limit? The ebb and flow of asylum seekers is by definition unpredictable.

None of this is to deny that Mr Reid's initiative makes excellent politics.

The use of an independent body to recommend "optimum" levels could help to take the heat out of a damagaing issue on whch Labour really cannot win.

Meanwhile, the whiff of migration limits has gone down well with the tabloids. "John Reid has some nerve", proclaimed The Sun in its leader. What Labour home secretary in our age could afford not to treasure such coverage?

gimlet · 08-08-2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

As a neophyte in matters of immigration politics, I must be careful how I tread.

Why does this person try to protect himself by claiming to be a neophyte? Has he an opinion or not?

Immigration - let the straight talking begin.

eublues · 08-08-2006, 09:56 AM

Yes, and the final sentence about the Sun's comment on Reid is highly ambiguous - I haven't seen the Sun but at a guess it was slagging him off not praising him.

John Page · 08-08-2006, 10:06 AM

Yes, I thought that but I couldn't find it on their site

I reproduced the full piece, but of course the best bit was the succinct rubbishing of the reasoning at the centre of this political manoeuvre.

John Carter · 08-08-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimlet

Quote:

As a neophyte in matters of immigration politics, I must be careful how I tread.

Why does this person try to protect himself by claiming to be a neophyte?

I guess it's to stop the mad leftie PC crowd from beating him up.

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08-08-2006, 09:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,967	Yes, and the final sentence about the Sun's comment on Reid is highly ambiguous - I haven't seen the Sun but at a guess it was slagging him off not praising him.

08-08-2006, 10:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	Yes, I thought that but I couldn't find it on their site I reproduced the full piece, but of course the best bit was the succinct rubbishing of the reasoning at the centre of this political manoeuvre.