Howard accuses Labour of “pussyfooting” around immigration
Conservative leader Michael Howard has accused Tony Blair of “pussyfooting around” the issue of immigration.
As the 2005 election campaign kicked off, he said immigration was “out of control” and insisted that the issue had been a “no go area” for politicians for too long.
Speaking in Telford, he said: “Mr Blair may want to pussyfoot around this issue, but I don’t.” He continued: “It’s not racist to talk about immigration. It’s not racist to criticise the system. It’s not racist to want to limit the numbers. It’s just plain common sense.
“I think it is offensive to brand as racist hard working people who worry about the chaos in our immigration system.”
The Tory leader claimed that most Britons, regardless of their race, want firm but fair controls on the numbers coming into the country and dismissed suggestions that his stance on immigration made him a “traitor” to his immigrant roots.
“Some commentators have accused me of being a traitor to my immigrant roots for raising this issue at all,” he declared. “They wrongly assume that people from immigrant families can have no possible interest in wanting to see immigration controlled.
“But I’ve lost count of the times that British people from ethnic backgrounds have told me that firm but fair immigration controls are essential for good relations.”
Conservative proposals include an annual limit on immigration, the creation of a dedicated British Border Control Police and an Australian-style points system for work permits. Party posters state: “It’s not racist to place limits on immigration.”
In a speech at the start of his 2005 election campaign, Mr Howard said he would hold prime minister Tony Blair accountable for, “the money you’ve wasted, for the promises you’ve broken and for the contempt you’ve shown for your office.”
Immigration of one of the few pre-election issues where the Conservatives lead Labour in the polls and the opposition party sees it as a key vote winner in the May 5th election.
However, Labour Cabinet minister Peter Hain has accused the Conservatives of “scurrilous, right-wing, ugly tactics”. The Labour’s leader of the House of Commons told GMTV: “Michael Howard is just shamelessly using this issue to try and scare people back into voting Conservative without proposing any workable solution.”
Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said Britain benefited from being a multi-cultural society.
