Friday 10 June 2016

Kamikaze Saga

Edward Heath became Prime Minister in 1970 because, it's widely accepted, of Enoch Powell's 1968 speech on immigration.
Mrs Thatcher said she would restrict immigration. She won a big majority in 1979. In her victory speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street she said that unlike previous Prime Minsters who broke their election promises she would keep hers.
Her most famous one-liner was "The lady is not for turning!"
 But she broke an election manifesto promise, and she turned.
That promise was to stop foreign men using marriage to live in the UK.
Many people want the UK to leave the European Union because of immigration. David Cameron's answer was to have a Referendum.
But Leaving the EU won't solve the UK's immigration problems. Instead, there will be a rush to beat any restrictions (just as in 1962 there was a rush of young men to beat the Commonwealth Immigration Act).
Leaving will bring problems:
It will create discontent in Scotland (which mainly wants to Remain);
Destabilise peace in Northern Ireland;
It will antagonise all remaining 27 countries (who have made concessions to keep the UK in the EU), and in particular any country to which visa restrictions are directed;
Result in Spain blockading Gib. (even faster than a new Referendum on Scotland leaving the UK).
Instead the Government could:
Cut down on chain migration (of relatives);
Cut out lawyers, appeals, advisory services (not available to Britons abroad, and funded by the British taxpayer);
Stop students from working (British students abroad are often not allowed to work);
Have medical cards for everyone entitled to use the NHS (as in other countries);
Have more British-trained doctors and nurses - and get 'em to stay!
Increase the period before someone gets "Indefinite Leave to Remain" and can apply for British citizenship;
Deport illegals (of whom there are said to be up to 1 million in these islands).
Both outcomes of the Referendum in 2 weeks' time are bad!
If Remain wins handsomely then nothing will be done to address immigration problems.
Bad blood will  intensify!