Cameron opens the immigration Pandora's Box

David Cameron has spoken on the problems of immigration and a transcript of his speech can be read here, courtesy of the New Statesman. This speech has promptly brought forth criticism from Vince Cable, something also picked up by the Guardian. When one thinks back to Cameron's last big speech on immigration, way back in 2007, there is not that much new content in today's speech.

So what, exactly, is the purpose of today's speech, if not to reassure Tory voters with an election due in approximately 3 weeks - and possibly to negate any possible defection by Tory voters to UKIP? Conversely, how does Cameron's policy of supporting Turkish accession to the EU square with having an immigration level our country can manage? It is also worth noting that on May 1st, social security rules change and these are changes that affect immigrants rights thus causing further drain on the UK's finances.

Factcheck have been looking at the figures quoted by David Cameron; earlier this morning Andrew Neill posted on Twitter that in December 2010 39,000 new jobs went to UK born workers and 173,000 went to non-UK born workers; Fraser Nelson, also on Twitter, courtesy of the Coffee House, posts a snapshot from the Labour Force Survey, one provided by the ONS:

Earlier today Nigel Farage and Damien Green clashed on the Today programme over immigration and the numbers involved. Once again Factcheck has investigated.

When politicians speak the public should be able to rely on that which is said and assume it is truthful - and the same should apply to the MSM and political commentators.  It is a sad state that our society has become when such information cannot be trusted and illustrates yet another facet of politics which is in need of correction. Supposedly the Office of National Statistics' output should be able to be accepted without question, but such is the reputation of all public bodies that I believe it reasonable to now doubt their output.

It is a fact that whilst we are a member of the European Union we are unable to stop anyone from another member state coming to this country (accepting that there are controls on new 'accession member states'), however those people, whether working or not, place additional burdens on our social services.

The leader in today's Daily Telegraph urges Cameron to take a stand on prisoners votes, if necessary to ignore the ECHR ruling and to pass a law negating any fine that may be imposed. The final paragraph of this leader is most telling:

"Such a showdown is long overdue – and while some on the Left will take umbrage, there will be broad political support for the Prime Minister. This is, after all, about the right of the British to make their own laws." 

to which statement it has to be said that, bearing in mind Cameron's stated wish to remain a member of the EU, it is unlikely any opposition to either immigration laws or the ruling by the ECHR will be forthcoming. For Cameron to so do would be but a massive admission by him that he has been wrong - and as we all know Cameron is never, ever wrong.

In addition for the Daily Telegraph to say that the issue is about the right of the British to make their own laws, when their voice on this subject has been 'muted' to the point of being non-existent, beggars belief. Just what does the Daily Telegraph believe those of us who have been vociferous in opposition to our membership of the EU have been complaining about?


Update Yet more 'smokescreen' to immigration figures added by this from Cathy Newman.

 with having an immigration level 'our country can manage'? policy of supporting Turkish