Byers to call for asylum action

Tuesday, 29 July 2003 12:00 AM

Former government minister Stephen Byers has stepped into the asylum debate by claiming that it is one of the biggest issues facing this country.

Mr Byers is to speak to the Social Market Foundation think-tank on Wednesday, where he will argue that concerns over immigration and asylum are 'legitimate' rather than racist.

The ex minister will defend some of the attempts by Home Secretary David Blunkett to reduce the impact of asylum on the UK from left wing criticism, suggesting that many Labour supporters are worst affected by over burdened inner city services.

There has been a rise in far right politics in the UK, which many link to the failure to resolve concerns over immigration. These were worsened by the record number of asylum applications lodged last year.

Stephen Byers will argue that this is because the centre left has avoided the issue, and allowed the right to dominate the public debate of the issue. He will acknowledge that it is a sensitive issue and that that while Labour must act; the left must avoid the criticism that the Government is playing into the hands of racists.

The main point of his address may be to highlight the possible cost of dismissing the issue as an obsession of the right that can be ignored. He will call on the party to ensure the system in place is fair, but also attempt to dispel some of the myths surrounding asylum.

The intervention comes shortly after the BBC's asylum night and may be timed to coincide with the launch of a new government debate on the issue after.

BBC programming has recently faced criticism from the Government for biased reporting of the asylum issue.

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