Honest Debate about Immigration Necessary

The Observer – It is now generally recognised in British politics that expressing concern about the scale of recent immigration into the country is not necessarily a sign of racism.

That is an important point, since the alternative is to impose on mainstream politicians a fear of unjustified condemnation. Too much caution in touching the subject risks surrendering the terms of debate to the real racists: the British National party.

It is partly a rise in the BNP’s profile that has changed the way the issue is discussed, not always for the better.

There is no doubting the impact of recent, sustained high levels of immigration. As the Observer reports today, a new study commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission estimates that 1.5 million workers have come from eastern Europe alone since 2004. They took the opportunity of EU enlargement to seek opportunities in Britain’s then buoyant labour market.

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