Liam redux

Immigration and dog whistle politics

See if you can work out which quote comes from Labour, UKIP, the BNP, Tories and Lib Dems. 1) The Party manifesto outlines *** proposals for a five-year moratorium on immigration, a new system of strict points-based visas and a tripling of UK Border Agency staff. 2) And as our investment in the training of…

Liam
1–2 minutes

imageSee if you can work out which quote comes from Labour, UKIP, the BNP, Tories and Lib Dems.

1) The Party manifesto outlines *** proposals for a five-year moratorium on immigration, a new system of strict points-based visas and a tripling of UK Border Agency staff.

2) And as our investment in the training of young people and adult workers raises our local skills levels – the need for skilled migrant workers can be substantially reduced.

3) A **** government will reduce immigration to the levels of the 1990s – tens of thousands a year, instead of the hundreds of thousands a year

4) We do not believe our borders should be a soft touch.

5) Britain always will have ethnic minorities.

 

a) UKIP

b) Labour

c) Conservative

d) Lib Dems

e) BNP

12 responses to “Immigration and dog whistle politics”

  1. Mike Law Avatar
    Mike Law

    “Over the past decade immigration was used as a short-term solution to labour shortages. Although there were people at the bottom of society who could have filled many of the jobs, given the right support, it was easier to bring in skilled and motivated workers from abroad.

    As a result thousands of long-term unemployed were left languishing on benefits. This was a tragic mistake. Immigration must not be used as a substitute for tackling long-term social problems such as worklessness, instead of providing opportunities to people who are already here.”

    Sir Robin Wales, Labour Mayor of flagship Labour borough Newham [taken from his Christmas message in the Newham Recorder]

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  2. alf Avatar
    alf

    Socialists need to explain that the enlargement project of the EU was all about the use of cheap labour and exploiting European workers in the new member states to satisfy the needs of capital. However we must not fall into the nationalistic trap that results in the racism of Gordon Brown’s “British jobs for British workers”. This gave legitimacy to the BNP etc.

    A united socialist state of Europe, as opposed to the capitalist EU means we take an internationalist approach in solidarity with workers across Europe and oppose the racist agendas of immigration controls.

    When Margaret Hodge calls for tighter regulations, that makes New Labour more impotent in challenging the BNP in Dagenham, as it gives legitimacy to their arguements.

    Socialists must be clear on this issue. All immigration controls are by their very nature racist. The false population arguements used to defend such controls are dominated by the different needs of capital as it suits them.

    The international struggles in defence of all workers rights across Europe and elsewhere is our priority. The growing Islamaphobic attacks are a cover to use scapegoats and xenephobia to divide workers and divert struggles.

    Hence it is not at all surprising that all pro-capitalist parties have an interest in pursuing the racist immigration card.

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  3. skidmarx Avatar
    skidmarx

    Are they in the order given:
    1(a), 2(b),3(c),4(d),5(e)?

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  4. martin ohr Avatar
    martin ohr

    It’s a trick question, All five are george galloway aren’t they? (from his article, Morning star 12th feb 2005)

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  5. Jim Denham Avatar
    Jim Denham

    According to today’s ‘Morning Star’, Unite Against Fascim’s Weyman Bennett welcomed Brown’s speech:
    http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/88647

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  6. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    Maybe I’m just biased against Gordon Brown or maybe the Morning Star did not carry Weyman Bennett’s full quote. “We don’t want the fascism of the 20th century to be remade in a 21st century immigration debate, an issue which is being poisoned by the BNP.”

    It genuinely seemed to me that Brown, and in particular the dreadful Phil Woolas, were sending none too subtle anti-immigrant messages in yesterday’s speech and interviews. I’ll just have to assume that either Weyman heard something I didn’t or has a more nuanced understanding of these things than I do.

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  7. Jim Denham Avatar
    Jim Denham

    For the record, Liam: I agree with you and was astonished by Weyman’s (reported) comments.

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  8. shug Avatar
    shug

    Alf ,socialism does not have to explain anything.Its the derisions of socialsim that have all the explaining to do.

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  9. alf Avatar
    alf

    Well we can not just leave it to assumptions that all socialists and non socialists just come to socialist conclusions without discussion.

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  10. shug Avatar
    shug

    Yeh!

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  11. alf Avatar
    alf

    When Weyman appeals to democracy one must ask whose democracy? The same democracy that uses the courts to make illegal the strike by train workers!

    Or are we referring to the democracy that sets the police on anti-fascists whilst allowing the EDL to march?

    Gordon Brown continues the policy of non racist immigration controls which have always turned out to be racist and keeps women and children locked up under terrible conditions in Yarl’s Wood.

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  12. Daveinstokenewington Avatar
    Daveinstokenewington

    OK Liam, which party’s only MP said this in 2006?:

    ‘We should publish an economic-social-demographic plan for population growth based on a points system and our own needs … no-one serious is advocating the scrapping of immigration control.’

    Is the answer (a) Respect (b) Respect or (c) Respect

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