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| So in the end there was no flood. In fact there was barely even a trickle. To the vast disappointment of assembled reporters at Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning, the predicted tidal surge of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants had completely failed to come. Most of the few arrivals that did seep through were either already resident in the UK, or were simply visiting. After much anxious searching, one reporter from The Times managed to find just one genuine new immigrant. "I come to work, wash cars," he told the paper. "I don't come to rob your country. I came to work. You open the borders. I come to work, to make money and go home." So after all the predictions of a flood, reporters could find just one man with a bucket. So what had happened to the Great Romanian Invasion of 2014? And why had the newspapers who predicted scenes akin to those out of 28 Days Later, got it so spectacularly wrong? Of course it's still early days. Perhaps a few million got lost on the way to the airport, or perhaps they're planning to sneak in under the cover of darkness once we've all forgotten about them. Or perhaps this was the single worst failure of the British press since the millennium bug. We'll have to wait and see. ********* But perhaps it's unfair to blame the press. After all, hyping up stories in order to sell papers is their job. But what was the government's excuse? Why have Theresa May and the Home Office spent the past year scaring the public about a threat, which so many experts had warned didn't exist? More importantly, why when the economy is struggling to recover from the worst recession in decades, did no politician make the positive economic case for immigration? Even Andrew Green, who heads the rabidly anti-immigration pressure group Migration Watch was forced to admit this week that immigration has been a net positive to the British economy. Of course he went on to claim that this fact was "not significant" but at least he admitted it. Why did no mainstream politician also make this case this week? What after all were they so scared of? ********* The fear among politicians of being seen as "soft on immigration" is now so ingrained that even genuine refugees are being turned away. The decision by David Cameron, who had spent months condemning atrocities in Syria, to reject people fleeing from the county is one of the more shameful events of his premiership. So when Ukip leader Nigel Farage took the decision to criticise Cameron for it, I was genuinely surprised and pleased. Here was a chance for him to finally shrug off accusations of bigotry levelled at the party and show that he is willing to stand by truly British principles of fair play. Sadly his brave stand lasted less than 24 hours. After a furious backlash from party members, Farage gave in. His original call for a blanket admission of Syrian refugees was ditched, to be replaced by a new call for only Christians to be let in. His attempt to make his party look less bigoted, had left them looking more bigoted than ever. ********* It is already clear that immigration will be a big part of the next general election campaign. This should worry anybody who cares about defeating racism in the UK. However, it should also worry the three main political parties. Immigration remains a big concern among the public, but there is little evidence that it is a big shifter of votes in the UK. Attempts by the Conservatives to raise fears about immigration this past year have not coincided with an increase in vote share for the party. Even Ukip, who have used immigration as a major part of their campaign, are still not on course to win even a single MP at the next election, according to pollsters. Besides, Ukip's rise in support last year was down to many factors, of which immigration is just one. Meanwhile, the only party to focus exclusively on immigration has seen their own fortunes gradually dwindle. The BNP, who just a few years ago seemed on the verge of an electoral breakthrough have since lost almost all of their elected seats. As immigration fears have risen, the BNP's standing has fallen. The bankruptcy order on BNP leader Nick Griffin this week should serve as a warning to all those mainstream politicians desperate to appear tough on immigrants. While the public may not like immigration, they appear to like anti-immigration parties even less. Best of NewsBNP leader Nick Griffin declared bankrupt The leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin has been officially declared bankrupt, following a difficult few years for the party. Michael Gove blasts Blackadder for spreading 'left wing myths' on war The education secretary said the popular series had sought to denigrate British patriotism and had been used by "left wing academics" to portray the first world war as a "shambles" led by an out of touch elite. Ministers deny trying to profit from commuters as fares rise Government regulated rail fares went up by an average of 3.1 per cent today, making UK commuters some of the most hard-pressed in Europe. Cameron: UK risks going into economic 'free-fall' The prime minister used his New Year's message to warn that the UK's economic recovery remained "fragile" and risked devastation if an alternative economic plan was adopted. Boris bus manufacturers threatened to block critical new book The manufacturers of Boris Johnson's multimillion pound new bus threatened to prevent the publication of a book criticising the design and construction of the vehicles. NHS charges for migrants 'risk public health' doctors warn Doctors warn that any new charges to use the NHS will put public health at risk as ministers withdraw plans to charge for GP services. Best of Comment and AnalysisThe Week According to Sean Dilley Broadcaster and general nuisance Sean Dilley gives his take on the week in politics. Labour's 'cost of gym crisis' shows exactly where they're going wrong If Ed Miliband wants to benefit from his cost of living campaign, he needs to do more than just moan about rising prices WATCH: Bennett: Cameron's immigration rhetoric is 'dangerous and toxic' Green Party leader Natalie Bennett used her New Year message to warn against a "dangerous, toxic" debate on immigration and urged David CAmeron to admit Syrian refugees. The honours system is broken: It's time for it to retire The real purpose of the New Year honours is to tie some of the most powerful and influential people in the country into a cosy little club. | Our club: Sports clubs to get young people workingVIDEO: Morrisons is pioneering a new programme in famous sporting venues around the UK to help young unemployed people get back into work. BHA: Right to die with dignity is a fundamental human rightThe 'right to die' cases of Jane Nicklinson and Paul Lamb will be heard at the Supreme Court this week. Rethink: Independent review of fit-for-work tests does not go far enoughReview of government’s controversial Work Capability Assessment (WCA) fails to go far enough. RSPCA urges Westminster to follow Welsh Government’s lead on fly grazing legislationThe new legislation will equip local authorities in Wales with additional powers to tackle fly grazing and abandonment problems. NASUWT: Key stage 2 results highlight the lie that education standards are falling“The efforts of teachers and pupils are often overshadowed by the obsession with performance league tables." CIOT: Tax advisers welcome changes to employee ownership structuresCIOT backs decision to provide capital gains tax relief for business owners upon transferring ownership to employees. BSA: Autumn Statement: Hard-pressed savers will continue to feel the pinchThe Building Societies Association comments on the autumn statement. IET: Autumn Statement: "Skills gap is a challenge that won’t go away overnight"Engineering and technology must remain government priority says IET in response to the Autumn Statement. CIOT: Autumn Statement: Cautious welcome for new Social Enterprises tax reliefCIOT welcomes Autumn Statement confirmation of new tax relief for investment by individuals in Social Enterprises. |
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