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From The Sunday Times
September 2, 2007
Immigration, the taboo word that will cost Cameron dear
Canvassing in the Handsworth area of Birmingham back in 1983, I was flummoxed by one voter. She stood before her considerable house in an area that had once been firmly middle-class. Now the villas around her had been converted into bedsits, and the locality had become scruffy and run-down. She was, apparently, now the only white resident in the street. She asked me when she had ever been given the chance to vote for or against Britain’s becoming multiracial. Since I could not answer that, she wanted to know why she should vote at all.
She could be dismissed as a racist, and I do not deny that she may well have been. But that would not invalidate her point. The biggest single change in postwar Britain is the transformation in who the British are.
The new diversity of races and religions makes a big difference to life in the UK. Some places have changed their appearance and norms of behaviour entirely. Many people will applaud the transformation for the diversity and enrichment that it has brought. But if the alteration of Britain can be presented in such positive terms, then it is all the more remarkable that it has occurred without the British people’s consent being sought.
Gordon Brown claims to be concerned about the public’s cynical attitude to politics. If so, he needs to understand that it is not the result merely of Labour or Tory sleaze, nor even of politicians’ broken promises.
Many people feel that when they are asked every few years to vote, they are never presented with a real choice on something that truly matters to them. They may be offered options of more public spending or lower tax, pledges with fairly minor consequences, which they in any case take with a pinch of salt. More often the choice will be only between one party that has just about got its act together and one that has totally lost the plot, which for me describes all the elections since 1970.
The changes of government in 1945, 1979 and 1997 provided new directions, but even such radical switches in economic policy did not transform Britain the way that immigration has. Anyway, nationalisation, Thatcherism and Blairism can be reversed. But immigration cannot. For Brown to make people less cynical about politics, he would need to allow elections or referendums to settle big issues, such as whether immigration should be more firmly controlled or Britain remain in the European Union or the death penalty be restored. That would represent a genuine transfer of power from politician to citizen, and so is not on offer.
To add to the public’s sense of frustration, immigration is a subject rarely even mentioned by politicians. It is not just that there is never an opportunity to vote on it, there is rarely a chance even to discuss it. Most politicians loftily ignore the fact that for many voters it is a top, maybe the top, priority.
Of course, Enoch Powell, then in the Tory shadow cabinet, mentioned it in 1968. His choice of language was explosive. His foreboding, which he likened to the ancient Roman seeing the Tiber foaming with blood, was apocalyptic. With a single speech, he made himself a national figure and the hero of the East End dockers. But his outspokenness ended his front-bench career and converted one of politics’ outstanding intellectuals into a populist demagogue.
In nearly four decades since then, no mainstream politician has chosen to follow Powell’s path, even if the bombs in London in July 2005 made us think again about the Tiber. Only Frank Field, a former Labour minister, has pursued the immigration issue tenaciously, while avoiding any racist slant.
The constraints on the immigration debate today are objectively absurd. Anyone, it seems, is free to advocate immigration, but to advocate ending it, which is no less arguable, could terminate your career. The government simultaneously sets out the virtues of immigration and seeks credit for restraining it. That in itself demonstrates that the proper level of immigration should be a fit issue for political debate.
There are many things in life that are commendable in small quantities, but pernicious in large ones. Why should immigration be any less debatable than tax? If one quarter of the UK’s new babies now have a foreign parent, is it fine to argue that it would be preferable if it were one in two, but disgraceful to suggest that one in eight would be better?
In recent years it has become permissible to deplore multiculturalism as a wrong turn, if only because the chairman of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Trevor Phillips, has done so. To advocate integration has become almost de rigueur and a frequent theme for the prime minister and Jack Straw. But even now to argue against immigration remains, illogically, taboo.
Perhaps such thoughts were in David Cameron’s mind when last week he commented that there had been too much immigration over the past 10 years. But then he must also be familiar with this paradox: that however many of our citizens lament being denied either choice or debate, politicians who raise immigration do not prosper.
Powell is not the only example. Admittedly, Margaret Thatcher won power after talking of people’s fears of being “swamped”. But she regretted having spoken in those terms and never did so again. William Hague brought immigration to the fore in 2001 and Michael Howard in 2005. In each case the Tories were flagging in the polls, and their advisers urged them to shore up the core vote. But their move looked merely desperate, and they went down to thumping defeats.
Had Cameron, a few months back, when he was 10 points ahead in the polls, adopted the tough tone on immigration that he used last week, he might have looked more like a man playing an ace (although I doubt it). But raising it now that he, too, is trailing, just looks like Tory despair once more.
It seems, anyway, to hinge on a misreading of his problem. He is not behind in the polls because he has lost Tory support. He has lost Tory support because he is behind in the polls. He fell behind because he failed to hold on to the new supporters that, with his freshness and his shift to the centre, he had won over from the other parties.
Those are the voters who will be most put off by Cameron’s mentioning immigration. They think it grubby Tory politics. They may be middle-class and otherworldly types who can afford to be liberal because they never encounter an immigrant other than their cleaner or plumber, but they have the votes that Cameron needs. By raising immigration in an attempt to shore up his core support, he has put those new votes beyond reach.
In fact, the core vote will not be mollified either. Over many decades, it has repeatedly heard promises to tighten up on immigration. But new arrivals have gone on arriving. First came West Indians to meet the shortage of labour, then new Commonwealth immigrants, then Kenyan Asians, then the families of all the above, then asylum seekers and lately European Union migrants (again to top up the labour market). For all the Tory party’s Euroscepticism, it was at least as keen as Labour on enlarging the European Union and allowing the free movement of people, so there was no choice there either.
The public expects now no change from either party. It knows that government predictions of future flows will be hopelessly too low. If one source of growth is tackled, as for example asylum seeking has been, another will be neglected. For all the recent focus on Polish plumbers, the large increase in immigration since the early 1990s is mainly accounted for by arrivals from outside Europe.
So when Cameron raised immigration last week it seems highly unlikely that anyone will have thought: “At last, a politician determined to make a difference.” They will probably have greeted his pronouncement as something wearisomely familiar, commonly associated with Tories around election time. It is hard to see what Cameron could have gained with it, but easy to see what he may have lost.
Hi Bill, I'm not actually a BNP man I am in fact a Tory and although I agree with more BNP policies than Tory ones, I still think there's something slightly sinister about the BNP. This is because I've only ever been invited to become a member of the BNP once seven years ago; by a group of people who openly stated that they were members of the Ku Klux Klan.
In the end I think this correctofascist mad house was created by reactionary political zealots, who rode into power on a wave of post WWII knee jerk popular animosity against anything right wing only to do an 'Animal Farm'.
The two great facing issues for at least the next 100 years will be climate change and human migration. With 2/3's of the worlds population living on coastlines & with the potencial for a climate change induced global malthusian catastrophe. There is the possiblitiy of literally 100's of millions being displaced by famine, economic disaster & war: A bit like Children of Men only without the infertility thing.
Chris, London, UK
hey Chris, i hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but the British Empire collapsed quite a long time ago now.
oh look, we live in a multicultural society now - how did that happen?
my advice would be to attend a few more BNP meetings, they may even value your opinion there
Bill, London,
We absolutely need an up to date Oliver Cromwell to rid this nation of the current crop of scummy politicians of ALL parties.
"You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately… Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
delores adam., sheffield, uk
This reminded me of a warning by the MOD of oncoming civil war and possible destruction of Europe as covered by The Times here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article673612.ece
The link takes a while to load, but it's worth a read.
Where do we go from here?
Roger, Norwich, Norfolk
Why are tories failing ? Here's a list.
A bit empty isn't it.
Thought you were the party that believed in helping yourself.
Ha. ha.....
You supervised the destruction of the work ethic and the good
6 million engineering jobs and replaced them with a manina-
van econonmy financed only by American finance and rubbish
easy equity......... still, its all about figures...................................
figures that no-one trusts and you can't attacK because your
the twerps that started the whole business of spin.
Its alot easier to blame Cameron than look at the
fundamental problems with your party.
M walker , worcs, worcs
I have been appalled at the dilution of the values and way of life in Britain. I think people should have stood up more for what is right and fought to retain what is best about this nation. There are too many indigenous people in Britain who simply are too lazy, uneducated and unambitious otherwise it would not be as easy as its been to colonise this country. And it has been colonised, lets not fool ourselves that it is otherwise. If you have to ask what does it mean to be British, then the battle is already lost. A real irony really when you consider how the Empire ravaged Africa and other sub continents and is now suffering the same fate. Enoch Powell was prescient but the British didn't have the balls to put aside the guilt for the sins of the Empire to listen.
meera patel, Bradford, UK
It's true that the wishes of the British voters are never sought on any of the big issues, certainly not the ones that have transformed life in these islands over the last 40 years. While I believe that governments should, somehow, be more accountable for a healthy democracy to continue, I can also see problems with having regular referendums. One is that the losing point-of-view would always search, and find, some excuse to keep the issue alive and keep arguing the case for a new referendum, until the correct result came in - a good example is votes on independence for countries in the uk. Another is in the case of EU developement - and not wishing to seem cynical, but : would most people really be sufficiently well informed on the issues and consequences?
Cirep G Nol, London,
Did we forget what happened to the Roman Empire?
I wonder if we shall soon see an Islamic Alaric emerging in the east or perhaps even within our own borders?
I think the most dangerous threat that we in the UK face today is of course from the correctofascist lobby, the dangerously naive zealots of this world from Neville Chamberlain to Ming Cambell. Already independant as well as official government statistics confirm beyond all reasonable doubt, that if the current trends in non EU immigration continue, whites not could but WILL become a minority in the UK by as little as 2060.
I find this completely unacceptable! And I WILL NOT accept becoming an ethnic minority in my own country!
If this foolishness of 'PC protected' immigration continues I predict that we shall have large sections of the white population actually attempting to succeed from the United Kingdom, thus precipitationg a modern Balkans style conflict: The first civil war in the UK since 1746!
Chris , London, UK
Give me a reason to vote Conservative. Just one.
The advisors to David Cameron are out of touch. He himself is sadly lacking any real conviction and it is a real shame. Not just for the Conservative party but also for the country. We deserve better. A true democracy needs people who have their own beliefs, even if they are unpopular. This may sound naive to a career politician but us simple folk still believe in integrity.
Britain needs to face the so called multiracial question. Personally I love the idea of a rich tapestry woven into our culture. But no other nation including the mother nations of many of our immigrant population would allow such a disorderly and ridiculously soft immigration policy. Being able to speak English should be a must on entry not after the event. Human nature dictates that if one can get away with something one probably will take the easiest path. We all need rules and rules apply to all. Otherwise civil unrest is staring us in the eyes.
J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom
David Camerons proposal to introduce a Youth programme only demonstartes he does not live in the real world. We already have the Guides, Scouts, Duke of Edinburghs Award Scheme for those who want challenges. The YTS failed because it was a political initiative.
But he wants to make it compulsory, like National Service which, he says, "was beneficial for those who took part". How does he know?
No one of my generation would have joined up if we had not been forced to. We were bullied, sworn at, driven until we could hardly stand up and treated in a totally incorrect political way. Today we could have sued for compensation for a lot of things that we were forced to put up with.
Yes I enjoyed it when I was playing sport and enjoying comradeship in adversity but I was never shot at!
He really has no idea of real life - it is all sound bytes.
John Best, Waterlooville, UK
David Cameron is making it impossible for me to vote Conservative. The reason is simple. He is a career politican. He openly asks the public to tell him what they want instead of having his own ideas and convictions.
Try telling it as it is"Dave". Even if people do not agree with you it at least shows them that you are a man of integrity, not just a vote grabbing hoare. The nation is crying out on every level for a real Prime minister, a man or woman that means what they say and is prepared to take difficult and unpopular decisions.
Tracking Labour policy for policy etc is not what we need.
For example, the root cause of Britains disfunctionality is the ease that women can concieve children without any means of supporting them and often taking the" I don't need a man " attitude. However their children do need and deserve a Father. If pregnant women were subjected to the same tests as potential adoptive parents and risk forced adoption they would get no free money and no free flat.
J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom
It's probably no less taboo to say so, but immigration is not so much about race as about culture. Those immigrants who are, frankly, culturally incompatible with Britain fail to integrate and cause problems. The same happens in Spain; Bulgarians come here and integrate well because they come from a relatively developed, modern, well-educated country, with a western outlook on life. Many South American immigrants, in contrast, despite speaking Spanish, have a premodern attitude to life; they lack aspirations and fail to mix with the natives. Those kind of people, like it not, are going to be a source of trouble for future generations.
The frustrating thing about the "progressive" view on immigration is that it tends to look only at the economy and superficial cultural aspects such as food and music. Deeper cultural problems are ignored, despite the economic costs they generate and the real damage to the culture of the host country (yes, western countries have culture too).
David Pritchard, Madrid, Spain
Owen, London, UK Perhaps your marxist views are to obvious, or perhaps you are saying that immigrants all work harder than the same amount of white people of British origin, they say that this country has benifited from immigration but if you swopped them for whites, would there seriously be a difference in GDP.........no. I know what i would rather have, as what multiculturism as done is the same as what cancer does.
Shne, Clitheroe, lancs
This all started as a result of the silly advisors from the shadow education team who misjudged terribly the reaction to the grammar schools announcement. The public were shocked by the stupidity of the policy and it made many people question all the hard work he had done the previous 18 months. I say sack the advisors and education unit, they're the ones who started this mess, let them pick up the pieces.
Edward, West London,
immigration is not a problem.
what is a problem is not having a set of defined standards to which everyone must adhere, with rules vigourously enforced and with culture or race not being an excuse for anti-social behaviour.
instead, we make allowances for individuals at the cost of society. as a result, people are rude, inconsiderate, extremist, absent parents, drug-dealers, gun-toters, etc. the way to address this is by education and policing, not immigration controls.
at the moment, the only people speaking out loudly for their standards are the extremists. in the same way that moderate moslems don't have a voice against the islamists, the average man in the street is not being well-served by politicians. the choice we have is an absolute disgrace to democracy. politicians are self-serving careerists and mediocrities.
jem, london, uk
There is a group of people who intend to control the world and its resources. That is Globalisation. The prime outlet for this madness is the United Nations, that corrupt and dangerous bunch of lowlife. They will do the Masters Bidding.
The EU. is tying Europe into one single Government State.Under the leadership of another bunch of unelected bureaucrats.
I have contacted a number of Conservatie MPs and Frank Field. There was William Hague, IDS., John Howard and probably half a dozen more. But just like the last days of John Major, the Conservatives don't know what they are for.
There is only one answer to all of this nonsnse,and that is for the TaxPayers to quite Legally, take control of Taxation and then enable the Local Parish and Town Councils to become Tax Collectors. There isn't anything the Government could do to stop you. / http://wwwanthony-flynn.blogspot.com
This URL will give you a starting point if you are interested in changing the Landscape. Regards, ATFlyn.
Anthony Thomas Flynn, Nr. Diss, Norfolk
People like blaming politicians. But who elects these politicians? This is a free country and anyone with the desire to start a political party can start one. Similarly, there is nothing to stop people voting UKIP or BNP to halt immigration. So why don't they?
The people get the rulers they deserve. And, I should add, the policies they deserve.
Nathan, Surrey,
"That would represent a genuine transfer of power from politician to citizen, and so is not on offer."
Dan Goleman, Toronto, Canada
To: Edmund Burke. It seems you live up to your name Sir. Portillo's family is Spanish, not Italian.
Mark, Birmingham, UK
In my considered opinion David Cameron has lost the plot because he is unable to formulate policy that can be debated
In addition to he is not a patch of TB or GB Of course TB is not there anymore but he is still a Labour party member
Bodipala Wijeyesinghe, Carshalton (SM5 2SP), UK
I advocate a sponsorship policy for would-be immigants. It should work like this :
1 - Every immigrant must have a sponsor who must be over 30 years of age, born here or resident here for a minimum of 25 years. Sponsor required to lodge a conformity bong of £5000.
2 - If sponsorship acceptable, immigrant is not entitled to any financial or other benefit for a period of five years : Sponsor is responsible for all expenses during this period (expenses take from bond if deemed appropriate).
3 - Any offence involving violence or dishonesty will result in immediate deportation to country of origin and permanent exclusion.
4 - After five years problem-free and attested good character
immigrant may apply for permanent residence. Bond returned to sponsor with interest at National Savings Rate for the 5 years.
Who could object? This procedure will apply to asylum-seekers: sympathetic campaigners will thus be able to put their money where their mouths are by acting as sponsors!
E H Storey, Bracknell, UK
I am an African immigrant, and been a naturalised Brit for 20 years. I must admit that if I were a white Briton, I wouldn't have allowed my country to turn out as it has nor, I suspect, would many other immigrants. Growing up in Africa with education systems that taught Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Bernard Shaw, T S Elliott, etc., I came to believe that Britain was a land of educated, cultured, literary and polite people. I certainly didn't expect to see estates controlled by knife-wielding youths, nor areas littered with syringes and pimp-controlled girls waiting to say "Do you want some business?". Then I heard the word "multiculturism"; though I hardly understood what it meant, I thought it was another instance of great British innovation. Frankly, I now think it's been a disaster! The worst thing is the way standards of right and wrong, good and bad, respect for authority, etc. no longer exist, presumably because what's wrong in one culture might just be right in another!
Charles, Bristol, UK
New Labour and New Conservatism are like two pot noodles with virtually no distinction in the artificial flavouring, Mushroom or Tomato, note the ease with which they migrate policy from one party to another, Gordon Brown taking on advisor's from across the political spectrum. Why don't they just amalgamate and continue dumbing down to to lowest common denominator then there could be some space left for a serious alternative. The way things are at the moment we have effectively a one Party state, or is that the master plan.
Simon, Leeds, U.K.
I am reminded of a TV program I saw which showed the white Zimbabweans trying to carry on life as usual after Mugabe had taken over. They clung to their traditions and pretended that there grandness still existed. The truth is their world had passed away forever, nothing would ever be as it was, and new realites soon overwhelmed them. In the end they were forced to dance like fools at gun point before their new masters. Of course Britain is much bigger than Zimbabwe, but the same loss of control, loss sovereignty is happening here, everyday our way of life is diminished to placate some minority or other, or to meet our "International Obligations". Other cultures are celebrated and funded, ours is attached and suppressed. And still our political representatives refuse to represent our interests. When this sorry process finally explodes, all of our representative will deny it was their fault.
John W, Oldham,
Well, well how come no one mentiones the real reason for economic migration - the uncomfortable truth that the so called British 'working class' ain't actually very good at working .
Send all the foregners home and you'll still be left with the
Vicky Pollards - 'disaffected' and feeling entitled for work free existence, but hey - providing you with the gross entertainment of drunken brawls on every high street.
Cheers !
Nick, Edinburgh,
What good is democracy and freedom of speech if we are not allowed to debate sensitive issues?
The fact is that our culture has been so diluted that even using the words 'our culture' are now meaningless here. We have a multi-cultural society now. A society made up of various ethnic, religious and national groups, many with different values, different morals and a different way of looking at the World.
This massive social experiment at the expense of the indigenous population of Britain will cause tremendous problems for the next hundred years.
Who should we thank for this mess? Well, its clear that all the woolie-minded liberals that jump from band-wagon to band-wagon are primarily to blaim.
It seems rather ironic that the same sandal-wearing CND supporting, 'liberals' that want to ban something new every month are the same flag-wavers that march to protect the indigenous populations of Brazil and New Guineau whilst encouraging 'multi-culturalism' here in the UK!
Mark, Birmingham, UK
Surely, it was an issue in 2005. Remember, "it's not racist to talk about limiting immigration. Are you thinking what we're thinking?". The Tories did speak about it. Problem was that those who were thinking what they were thinking and cared enough to make it a top political priority were already voting Tory.
Geoff, Bath,
I'm English and my good friend (an East African Asian) reckons this country is daft and soft - gullible and ridiculously tolerant to the point of madness - my friend wants to get away from the crazy gone wrong immigration in England and move to Australia. What do we do? Why have we let successive governments do this to us? Do our politicians hate the British people? Why aren't we doing something to scare those idiot politicians?!
Tom., East London,
I found that this column very much struck a chord., the observation that the British Public had not been consulted as to whether they wanted GB to become a multiracial society was a very moot point, but very possibly the thin end of the wedge. The point that the voting public very much take elecation promises with a "pinch of salt" is quite right, but yet this is the basis on which they cast their vote, if they can be bothered at all. But what of the decisions that governments take outside of this manifesto? Immigration, EU membership, military engangements on many fronts, single currency, terrorism, I.D. cards, DNA registers, the recent attack on pensions, growning criminality in children etc etc. The government would seem to make carte blanche decisions on all of these issues without consultation with the very people they represent. The democratic process of election would seem at times only to be our opportunity to elect the next dictatorship.
AMG, Bristol, UK
Michael Portillo is right. Cameron has lost support because he is behind. The real question is why is he behind in the first place? I do not think that the immigration issue, however interesting, is relevant here. The fact is he looks like a clone of Blair and all that presentational rubbish which lacked real substance is yesterdays politics. Blair lost our trust over Iraq. Cameron looks like Blair and suffers accordingly. He is made to look worse by his lack of a consistent sure-footed approach to policy. Frankly Gordon Brown makes him look like a lightweight again fighting yesterdays battles. Prepare for further Tory infighting.
R. Thackray, Grand Brassac, France
If there was to be a general election tomorrow, I would really struggle to vote Conservative for the fear of higher taxes. Isn't that extraordinary? I have discussed this with many people and it appears that voting for Cameron means a likelihood of higher taxes if you are middle class and do middle class things like fly, drive a car and enjoy things that consume gas and electricity in the home. For Conservatives, Labour, very surprisingly, now seems much safer than to vote Conservative! I don't think Cameron is behind, so much as on a cloud somewhere producing policies that he thinks people should vote for rather than producing policies that people want.
CH, Sheffield, UK
nope! he's behind 'coz he lost tory support!
Tilo, London,
How about an "Opposition of all the Talents"?
Cameron should recruit Frank Field asap
Neil Voyce, Reading , Berks
"who said it was all right ? whos permission did they seek ?"
If we didn't have all these millions of immigrants coming into the county, you ungrateful sod, the economy would grind to a halt. That is a fact.
Owen, London, UK
Ah, si si! Signore Portillo! Engalanda for di Engalish an no foreigna mucka! (O - an by de way, Signore, where you get your Italian name, Signore Portillo??)
Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England
Both multiculturalism and immigration as concepts, need to be revised in the light of recent advances in I.C.T ., i.e. the digital networked global economy.
In this new (and fast changing) reality, feedback loops are "real time". Think of the incalculable wealth generating opportunities locked up in British Indian, Pakistani and Chinese communities, to name but three.
I could go on.
It's time to start exporting this so called "tacit knowledge" on a grander scale. By definition, all of the world's crises can be properly managed, provided pre-existing tacit knowledge is encouraged to flow from A to B (through single and/or double feedback loops)
The opportunities are staring at us in the face. One example: India is badly in need of an A.R. Now that we have better mapped out the complex interdependencies involved, extending these "ideas" beyond borders becomes a simple trade-off.
Multiculturalism, if properly managed, is the cutting edge of geopolitics.
Sonnenblume, Midwoud, Nederlands
I am 51 years old , and in all my time no party , no politician has ever asked me if it was all right to bring millions of Imigrants into this my country . this country has changed massivley . but still we voters are still disenfranchised . who said it was all right ? whos permission did they seek ?
k myers, milton keynes, england
It's significant that the Tories are gradually appearing to adopt good, reasonable and sensible BNP policies - uniformed border guards, proactive support of marriage and the family, and now a debate about immigration. But don't be fooled - they can talk the talk, with a hope that the gullible electorate will be seduced into believing they will address these issues if they get back into power, but as a party of the establishment they are not allowed actually to do anything. When Mrs Thatcher mentioned "swamping" in 79, many voted Tory, but Vietnamese boat people were allowed in 2 years later, and since that time the Tories have done NOTHING about immigration when in power. It's a typical creepy Portillo trick - don't be fooled, vote BNP, the only party that will do something positive .
proud to be British, Nottingham, uk
Immigration is related to all sorts of fundamental political issues. It puts pressure on the popular welfare state and indeed the entire baby boomer legacy, it's an essential part of the globalization processes, and it thus often raises debates about culture and/or values. Who said freedom? Who talked about opportunities? Who mentioned security? Who said inequality? And what about crime? And so on.
In other words, immigration strongly challenges the orthodox and perhaps somewhat outdated political party positions and conventional interest groups. . .
Furthermore, of course, we need to distinguish between the many different immigration streams, and their distinctive impacts on our increasingly interconnected economies. And we also may also need to recognize that other overlapping forces belonging to the globalization processes seem to challenge our local cultural traditions.
Simon G., Copenhagen, Denmark
Who will be brave enough to admit the truth about immigration? Well considering the Tories prefer to keep their heads down on most issues, don’t hold your breath. Mr Brown’s tax credit policies cleverly concocted to keep the middle-class’s voting Labour, mean unless something dramatic happens to these core voters they are always going to be persuaded to vote Labour to safeguard their tax incentives.
The Tories won’t admit the Iraqi war is wrong, they pussy foot around immigration, the middleclass by and large aren’t interested unless it affects them personally so they wont bother. So what policies are the Tories left that they are prepared to fight on, anti-social behaviour issues? This is where the Tories can win hands down on these weak minded lefties. These weak policies that have allowed gangs to thrive in society require changing before we alienate the millions of good hard school studying kids. We the adults have a duty to these good kids, we should stand and be counted on their behalf, enough is enough. I keep repeating the same mantra will someone please stand up and be counted, where’s the new Maggie?
Michael Mallin, Sheffield,
I think its very sad that people who are concerned about immigration are afraid to speak out because of being branded a racist. The average man in the street wants to see a political party who will act for its people and take into account its peoples views and opinions. They want a referendum on the EU. They want an end to mass immigration and the loss of their culture and heritage. The Conservatives and Labour do not listen to the people and as you quite rightly say in general avoid the immigration issue. It is not rascist to want tighter control over immigration and not to let all and sundry into this country, its just plain sensible. Sadly there is no party willing or capable of doing the job!
James, London,
Thank you, Michael. Yet again I will not be voting, for the reasons you point out.
Lawrence, Liverpool, England
When I was born the population was 45 million. Britain was already crowded, and the UK only just managed to feed itself during the war on more land than we now have available for food production. Citing a need for never-ending prosperity and economic growth, the population burgeoned to over 60 million due principally to mass-immigration. Apart from the disastrous cultural consequences, I think the true folly of mass immigration will come home to us in the near future, as food prices rocket, and we are no longer able to produce enough for food for ourselves on the reduced land area that we now need for millions of houses. We could see it coming, surely? After all, we are not all politicians.
Trofim, Worcestershire, UK
Why indeed can there not be a full public debate on the issue of immigration into this over-crowded country? And when will any political party start a debate about the optimum population of Britain (& especially England)?
Dave, Wrexham,
Oh what trouble this Government is storing up. Immigrants come into the country with different cultures and different values. Different principles and attitudes, different morality. They are bound to change British society. Those who have welcomed the many and varied changes are self-interested, making plenty of money from the issue of immigration and the immigrants themselves. Those who are not so happy are those who, in some areas, are under seige and are now at the back of the queue for NHS services but have lived here all their lives. In my local hospital it is now possible to attend a clinic with only one white patient among many others. It is amazing how Governments are rarely aware of the talk on the street. People in Britain are not happy with the levels of immigration that we are currently seeing and it is a political issue. Someone had better be prepared to talk about it or the consequences will be undesirable.
Judy , Liverpool, england
I think we could actually have a grown up debate about immigration if politicians were brave enough. It isn't about race and racism anymore. It is now a matter of economics. This Labour government has presided over a huge increase in the labour market, competing for low paid jobs and thus keeping the wages of the lowest paid very low. Meantime they have seen the remuneration of the more gilded sectors of the economy become ever more gilded even allowing them tax breaks. If Mr Cameron presented the argument in those terms he would be discussing a truth the electorate would recognise and that includes first, second and third generation immigrants themselves.
We are constantly being told that the NHS cannot cope, that congestion charging is necessary for our roads, that we don't have enough housing and yet at the same time we have allowed huge levels of immigration thus exacerbating the problem. Tell it like it is Mr Cameron or whoever is brave enough. It's not racism, it's realism.
Paul Owen, Birmingham, uK
Portillo predictably handles this crucial issue sensitively but firmly. Why we can't have someone like him leading the country I don't know.
James, York, UK
Dunno - now that some of the immigrants are white, people can represent themselves as non-racist-reasonable-anti-immigrationists. This because the peculiar history of British immigration has meant that 'racism' is equated with a reaction to the colour of someone's skin, rather than what everyone understood as their race back before the '70s.
Absurd really, when you consider that Hitler despised the French on purely racial grounds, and murdered so many other white people for the same reason, but there it is. You can be against Polish plumbers and thereby a protector of the local working classes without equating yourself with Enoch Powell in the slightest. And there's a lot of disillusioned working-class voters to go for.
Which means the terms of political trade on immigration are turning. The strangle-hold on the immigration debate held by those usually referred to as the 'liberal elite' is reaching its sell-by date, and a careful politician should be able to benefit.
Chazza, Bristol, UK
We can all rant and rave about immigration, but Portillos remarks will soon be forgotten. Nothing will change. If we had a referendum and the government lost they would still chip away until they got their way. Like many people l looked at the BNP site and am now a member. have a look yourself , the only alternative to this disgusting lot of politicians.
bernard, gravesend,
Odd how many of the most virulent comments come from "Brits" who have fled these shores and become immigrants themselves. Would they restrict this action also or are they somehow different/better?. This is a pointless discussion, not because of inaction or a sinister plot but the rule of the market (used to be core conservatism). one cannot stop this unless at the same time you wish to cut the UK off from world markets for goods and capital and the rest. I don't see many expats writing in from Belorus.
james, belgrade, serbia
'He has lost Tory support because he is behind in the polls.'
No, he's lost Tory support because Tories have realised that he isn't a Tory. Anymore, in fact, than you are.
Bill, Sheffield,
The position is far worse than this article will admit to, with 60% of immigration outside of EU being Muslim, is it not a fact that the history of wherever the Muslim population has gathered in sufficient numbers in any culture different to their own that there is civil strife and a power grab to enforce the laws laid down in stone by the Koran. It amazes me the architecs of mass immigration are liberal left who have most to lose as this tragedy unfolds on what is a liberal, democratic, law abiding people,
robert, ashford,
IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION
STOP
Slap a moratorium on it , the EU know we've taken more than our share on this , if they don't like it tell them tough ! we are not taking any more, for however long it takes to sort ourselves out.
Pull up the drawbridge, this island is full.
Maggie Millington, Brittany , France
The Conservative Party is at a difficult crossroads. Your view that the perceived posturing over immigration by Cameron has lost recently gained voters from the centre of politics is a valid one. However, what will decide the outcome of the next General election will be radical new policies, backed by bold discussions with the electorate. I know hard core labour voters who are moving to the right on the immigration issue. A net immigration increase is good for the economy as it helps keeps wage inflation down. It is the lack of integration, not immigration that concerns people. Enoch powell may have been unpopular, but his understanding of tribal behaviour could sadly be proven correct in the future. Cameron can but only try his best to be all things to all people. Its radical new ideas and the condition of the economy at the time of the election that will decide the winners of the next election. Lets celebrate the diversity of our cultural differences and integrate, not separate.
G Millward, Swindon, England
The election campaign draws near and the conservative team are on the wrong themes again.
Good leadership is substance behind the policies and not Public Relation stunts to grab headlines.
The conservative have fallen for the same type of campaigning that lost them previous elections. Unless they are afraid of the UKIP vote.
Strategically the best they can hope for is to consolidate the seats they have or to try and increase the number of seats in Parliament.
Unfortunately at present there is a lack of clarity behind the policies. A more defined approach to foreign policy would attribute well in the election campaign but most of all the leader's vision.
The Director, LONDON, England
Michael Portillo's attitudes sum up what is wrong in British politics. He lives in a privileged world and pontificates weekly on issues that have little direct effect on him. Politicians, he states, will do nothing about immigration and so there is nothing to be gained by raising the issue, even though it is a major issue in the public mind. This argument could equally be made about almost any issue. It is the politics of the elite who sit comfortably outside the daily existence of the majority. His message is one of hopelessness and bereft of vision for the British people.
Brian Tomkinson, BOLTON, UK
Michael Portillo's attitudes sum up what is wrong in British politics. He lives in a privileged world and pontificates weekly on issues that have little direct effect on him. Politicians, he states, will do nothing about immigration and so there is nothing to be gained by raising the issue, even though it is a major issue in the public mind. This argument could equally be made about almost any issue. It is the politics of the elite who sit comfortably outside the daily existence of the majority. His message is one of hopelessness and bereft of vision for the British people.
Brian Tomkinson, BOLTON, UK
Politicians are great at talking about things without having any direct knowledge of the effects.They all nod their heads wisely showing they know,but they do not have a clue.
Anyone could see the immigration problem looming years ago,same with the forces,agriculture,manufacturing,housing,education etc.We now have a huge non productive bureaucracy,an out of touch govrnement and a popylation of voters who feel totally disenfranchised.
Nigel, Wimbledon, UK
Mr.Portillo hits the nail on the head. Politicians of all parties today are part of the same club. They only care about their own careers and are not the slightest bit interested either in their constituents, who elect them, or what is good for Britain. Most have had no commercial work experience or experience of any kind that involves working and communicating with normal real people who voice the concerns of their own communities.
No politician should be allowed to stand for election as an MP without having a minimum 10 years proven real life work experience in the private commercial sector with corresponding reference letters from their company bosses confirming their achievements, if any. No one from the City , NGO's or Unions need apply!
Only then, perhaps, will the real issues which affect and reflect the concerns of the Great British Public as a whole, be aired, debated and acted upon.
Chris (ex-pat), Belgrade, Serbia
Mr.Portillo hits the nail on the head. Politicians of all parties today are part of the same club. They only care about their own careers and are not the slightest bit interested either in their constituents, who elect them, or what is good for Britain. Most have had no commercial work experience or experience of any kind that involves working and communicating with normal real people who voice the concerns of their own communities.
No politician should be allowed to stand for election as an MP without having a minimum 10 years proven real life work experience in the private commercial sector with corresponding reference letters from their company bosses confirming their achievements, if any. No one from the City , NGO's or Unions need apply!
Only then, perhaps, will the real issues which affect and reflect the concerns of the Great British Public as a whole, be aired, debated and acted upon.
Chris (ex-pat), Belgrade, Serbia
David Cameron is the single best thing to have happened to the Conservative Party in 20 years. He is young, dynamic and true to his aims for the country. His party however, which I have always supported, could really do with following his example. Its backstabbing behaviour towards Cameron will only lead to their defeat in the next election. Obviously they feel restless not having chucked out their leader for a whole year and a half but if they have any desire to be back in power any time soon they should get their act together and get behind David Cameron.
Araminta Houstoune Boswall, Oxford, England
Immigration was good in the Middle Ages when rulers would import craftsmen as a matter of course. It was good in the 1960s when immigrants helped to re-vitalise our shattered economy and stagnant culture. And, with the Polish Plumbers adding their skills, knowledge and work to the mix, it's good for the UK now. We should welcome them. The UK is attractive. For the persecuted, we offer shelter; for the industrious, opportunity; and for the ambitious, fame. Whether for safety, work or glory, we are a worthy destination. Our fore-fathers created a place where people can live free from deadly fear, gnawing hunger or mortifying cold. We, building upon their efforts, have created a place of opportunity where work is rewarded. People near and far want to realise their dreams here, in this, our island nation. For our liberal society, our laissez-faire economy and our pluralistic democracy, there is no finer testament than this: people come here of their own free will.
Jim, Liverpool, UK
It may be that this article is wrong at the very start. Immigration is not so much a tool with which a prospective politician can win or lose favour - immigartion is much more than that. Mr Portillo, who I have always enjoyed listening to, may have missed the boat with this subject. We need to have immigration. The article also fails to mention the Home Office plans to introduce a new 'points based system' next year. This new system intendeds to score applications by awarding more points to the applicants with the skills we desire most. My cousin lives and works in the USA and my best friend lives and works in Thailand. Record numbers of Brits moved abroad last year - so why should we be allowed to go out to other countries to benefit ourselves if we are to curb the rights of others to come here and do likewise?
Crashing Dashing Kid, Glasgow, Scotland
Funny Portillo says that people believe Immigration will never be controlled. The government that he was a member off controlled it quite well. It was only under Blair it got out of control. A future goverment could control it again.
David P, harrogate, yorkshire
Immigration is not the issue.For a thousand years or more this island has absorbed migrants and there is no reason for this not to continue.
The issue is that we,in the age of mass transport and the social and econmic melding of countries and even continents have lost control over our borders.We do not control,regulate or even have the ability to count the influx among which are not just "the workers we need" but legions of agressive young men who enter this country as opportunists , having the ability to live here and have the basics of life either provided or within reach and without any influence from the society they enter.
We are a "soft " and liberal society, introducing to our way of life people who have the abilities to cross the world under conditions of great privation.From these ranks will come clever,resourceful people who will benefit us all,but in greater numbers will come criminals who in a nation without respect for its own integrity will live 'off ' rather than with us
robert everitt, wolverhampton,
A well argued piece Mr Portillo, congratulations. Of course you could not have expressed such views if you were still a member of the Commons. Within a year or so the English people will be asked to choose between the lesser of two evils, one being Conservative and the other being Labour. It is rather like being asked how one wishes to commit suicide; a bullet in the head or a lethal injection perhaps. Kindly advise your good friend Mr Cameron to stop taking lessons from Mr Blair and familiarise himself with the works of Churchill and Thacher.
Peter E Harrison, Fair Isle, Scotland
The BNP is the only party with the courage to tackle this thorny issue head on. Says it all about the conspiracy at the top (including all major parties), does it not?
Gervas Douglas, Andorra la Vella,
So Michael you suggest in the article that some voters are going to shun the conservatives because Mr. Cameron raised the issue of immigration. That's fair enough if that's what you believe. Nevertheless, no explanation is provided as to why those voters are going to behave that way. There must be a reason where such a voting pattern would be attributed to. For instance, is this gonna be the case because those voters have a good heart and are altruistic people or just because they think immigration in its current form is a benefit to the economy? The notion that those voters are not going to vote for the conservatives because they realized Mr. Cameron touched the issue of immigration solely for the sake of gaining extra votes is far fetched, in my view. Unless Mr. Cameron comes forward and admitts to it, it is not a credible explanation.
Richard L., Hannover, FRG
I agree with Micheal Portillo that immigration must be a subject for open debate, I speak as an immigrant taking advantage of the freedom of movement within the EU, living in Barcelona. You are expected to speak Spanish / Catalan - no government interpretors are provide for routine day to day living such as going to the doctors, hospital or school. You are expected to conform and fit in, to respect the values of your host country. When I go back to England it seems the other way around to me. I think the rules of the game have changed with the ease of travel today, and the UK should restrict immigration primarily to EU members to honour our union membership, which over time would balance out as the standard of living of new member states improves. We are not responsible for the ills of the rest of the world. The "multicultural experiment" has been a big mistake, which has resulted in the fragmentation of society with little in the way of shared values or ideals or even language.
Irene MacLeman, Barcelona, Spain
Well Michaels rights about oe thing. Most people feel deeply disenfranchised, understand their vote is worth little or nothing and in any case the majority views of the public on crime, europe , immigration and the EU will matter not a jot no matter which main party is in power. If politians keep misrepresenting the views of people the only future they have in terms of respect from the wider population is very poor. Referendum on any of the above ...."fat chance".
Adrian Morris, Swindon, UK
The fascinating point Portillo makes is the paradox why an issue that is right up there with issues that concern the (native British) electorate is why it has so little political resonance.
I put it down to the media and BBC, and self-styled elites in academia and the judiciary which have created an intellectual climate in which it is simply unacceptable to challenge the orthodoxy that "immigration is a good thing" (by implication all of it. Nobody disputes that brain surgeons and other skilled immigrants are an asset). The mantra "our diversity is our strength" implies that our homogeneity is our weakness. From which it follows that an English village is socially weaker than Tower Hamlets. An evident nonsense. When Cameron supposedly said that there has been too mich immigration he made it plain that this was purely a numbers issue. He is agnostic about whether the country is populated by the native British or newcomers. Which is why I will not vote for any of the 3 main parties.
Howard, Richmond, England
Perhaps the reason we don't debate immigration is because it produces the nonsense from right-wing contributors saying "the West needs to save itself". From what exactly? If Portillo and his ilk were true economic liberals as they often claim then they would support the ending of manmade boundaries and the freedom for people to go where they like. I think that is very unlikely. The reality is that opposition to immigration is based on engendering fear and hatred, and those who use it as a political tool usually want to encourage people to hate each other. Immigrants aren't evil demons coming to wreck our way of life. They're just other human beings trying to get on in life. Good luck to them I say.
Brian, Nottingham, United Kingdom
I am not interested in whether or not it is politically correct to be a racist, but when were the British: Enlish, Scotts, Welsh and Irish, asked if they wanted the huge influx of foreigners of various persuassions that have so changed the very nature in every way of this United Kingdom, which so many over the Centuries fought and died in countless wars to keep free, only to see it lost through the Back door.
I an no extremeist, i am a life long Tory voter, but when unrest, similar to the troubles in Ireland errupt, some time in the next 15-30 years, we will have the duplicitous politicians of all colours to thank.
John, London, UK
So what is so wrong with a shift to the so-called far right? The left-liberal establishment (and that includes the Conservative party) have moved the cultural and social agenda so far leftwards that the BNP stance is looking less and less extremist.
Anyone who thinks Cameron will do anything serious to curb immigration is living in a fool's paradise; the man has belief in only one thing and that's obtaining power.
Myles, Glasgow,
I think he may have won the next election. We're full up and that's the truth. It's either him or BNP for me.
Frederick, Dubai, Dubai
A brilliant column from Michael Portillo, but what is the solution?
Robert, London, UK
A good article by Michael Portillo, but I'm afraid that nothing on this earth could induce me to vote for one of the main parties, and I think that my decision in 2003 to join the BNP was absolutely the right one.
Charlotte Lewis, Croydon,
"they never encounter an immigrant other than their cleaner or plumber".
Michael, honestly. I'm an immigrant. I'm a brain surgeon. My wife is an immigrant. She's a lawyer. You massively underestimate the contribution that immigrants have made to our country - from the top jobs in the NHS and the city, to the jobs that you mention. It's about time that we get rid of these horrible stereotypes.
Mohammed, London, UK
I recently read Powell's famous speech for the first time... it made me wonder why he was ajudged to have been wrong!
The EU is a much bigger issue now though... and Cameron has been a complete pussycat there; he has no problem with the larger EU project, and thanks to his timidity and the treacherousness of so many current MPs the Constitution WILL go through, and Britain WILL be lost. In which context, is immigration not surely an irrelevance?
Adam Neilson, Birmingham,
I was amused by Jack Straw's grasp of the mathematics of Immigration. It goes something like this -
'We need new immigrants to support our ageing population. Thirteen people are required to work to support one Pensioner. '
So when these thirteen assorted people retire - we will need 13x 13 people (that is 169 for those politicians that cannot handle the maths). So we need even more immigrants........... It is similar to pyramid selling...
We have a small island that at best should support some 50million people. We already have over 60 million.
You can see today where this will end - Goodbye England.
Tim Black, Southampton,
I forcast that there will be a defening lack of comment on this issue in the 'have your say' column and that is the heart of the problem. To many people it seems somehow 'wrong' to discuss this subject. That is the result of the constant tirade from the anti racism lobby. Michael Portillo is to be congratulated, but must be very careful. It is a fact that many parts of our cities are dominated by an alien culture, some of which have no intention of learning our language or customs, indeed we have to pay for interpreters and advisors, creating a whole new industry. To say any more on this subject would probably brand me racist - but what I say is true - isn't it?
Diddly Do, Liverpool,
Cameron, Brown, Menzies, nothing but three heads on the same dog! The only viable option for British voters is the BNP. I know, I know, racist skinhead nazis, fascists, boot boys. But who is it that's telling you this? That's right, the labour party! And we all know what paragons of truth and justice they are, don't we?
Time to start thinking for yourselves and stop taking everything these lying, rotten socialists are spoonfeeding you! All of you here have access to the internet, do what I did and check these things out for yourselves, especially the manifestos on the BNP website. Anyone that wants to us withdraw from the EU, that wants to close the borders and stop the mental amount of immigration into this country, and that thinks the British government should put the welfare of its own people first, will most definitely get my vote!
Craig Pond, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Well said Mr Portillo. We in England should adopt the Australia model but our polticians are too frightened, anyway it's too late we have unmoveable ethnic communities that beleive in tehemsleves too much to integrate, Enoch was right!
Kay, London,
The Americans control immigration by withholding the Green Card - which enables an immigrant to obtain employment.
My son Paul has a friend, Araf, who went to a southern state to live and work. I believe it took years to get his . He loves it there.
Brian Seals, Scarborough, Nth Yorks, UK
The belief that Cameron has lost Tory support simply because he is behind in the polls is laughable. This suggests that Tory voters would support anybody who looks like a winner. Well right now Gordon Brown looks like a winner and I have no interest in voting for him.
I am interested in voting for somebody who understands the issues and has the credibility to solve them. I for one, do not believe that Cameron has the remotest understanding of the immense problems facing Britain after 17 years of stupidity and not a snowflakes chance in hell of fixing the problems even if he did get into power.
As a voter I am left with the choice of two idiots, one of whom does at least appear sincere but in reality squanders my money in prodigious amounts to buy votes for New Labour and the other merely hugs trees. You are right, he is a loser and nobody votes for losers, but he is behind in the polls because he is a loser and not as you suggest a loser because he is behind in the polls.
Paul, Parker, Colorado
Wrong Peter. Today's politicians will be safely tucked up in their coffins. It is their children and grandchildren who are going to have to deal with the consequences of uncontrolled immigration during (and probably after) the Blair years. Of one thing you can be certain: within 20 years Britain will be changed beyond recognition and the term 'British' will have a different meaning from that understood by Winston Churchill.
Adrian Gilbert, Tonbridge, England
Are you sure that you are a CONSERVATIVE Mr. Portillo?
Your article suggests that politicians are too afraid to speak of the mass immigration to the United Kingdom, for fear of ruining their careers.
That Sir, sums up the state of this once "Great" Britain, we are ALL afraid to speak out, for fear of being classed a racist.
Susannah Forrest, Harrogate Yks, England
My concern with the immigraton issue is, that sooner or later unless it is tackled in a fair and sensible way, there will be a major shift to far right policts in the UK. The far right are quick to exploit these issues in areas of high immigration like Bradford, Birmingham, London etc.
Immigration needs to be controled by sensible guidelines, such as job skills, ability to speak English, financial status. The UK could learn much from the Australian and New Zealand immigration points system. The UK benefit sysytem is seen by many as an easy life and this should be restricted so as any new immigrants to the UK should not be able to claim any benifits for 5 years.
The UK should be actively seeking Doctors, nurses, skilled people not economic migrants.
Unless this issue is tackled head on, the future looks very uncertain.
Terence Harrington, Ramsgate, England, Kent
385,000 people left the UK in one year - 2006 - according to recent reports. Most likely these are likely to be potential Tory voters.
An equivalent number of immigrants are coming in each year - probably not Tory voters.
If this continues each year how can the Tories expect to gain power again?
ben, harrow,
Recent reports state that within 20 years we,the British,will actually become the minority in many of our towns and cities.I find this unacceptable,as does everyone I know,but no politician stands up and speaks out against it.The Labour party look upon immigrants as votes for them, thus keeping them in power for years to come.I think that this is behind the fact that they took no action to prevent the large influx in the past 10 years.All illegal immigrants will be given citizenship on the grounds that it is common sense. Common sense for the Labour Govt.who will benefit from their votes and thus remain in power ! Democracy will then be totally dead.
Mike, Dunstable, England
Most commentators such as Mr Portillo focus on immigration
itself rather than on the type of immigrants who arrive in this
country. They are frightened to mention religion and race.
White working people object to becoming racial minorities in
their own neighbourhoods but have no political party to
represent their views. If this country received another 20m
Polish immigrants in the next 20 years most people would
have very little problem with that. But. if we recieved a similar
number of black Africans, Pakistanis or/and Muslims I think
both the working classes and the middle classes would object.
John, LONDON,
It is being labelled by the big 'R' word that frightens people. To mention anything vaguely anti immigration about culturally different people is tantamount to heresy. Yet I imagine many are not racist, they are 'culturalist' and by that I mean feeling unable to have any say regarding the immigration of people who have in some cases, extremely different social and cultural attitudes to one's own. So extreme are some of these attitudes that they make a mockery of the views and values of the modern Britain in which they reside - or anywhere Western for that matter.
Surely open debate and discussion should be encouraged, not people lowering their voices in discontent and the added fear of being branded racist ,simply for saying what they feel about something which does impact on a country as a whole.
As for the job sourcing - put money into the youth already in the country first, and let them become the workforce of the future.
Gerry B
Geraldine Baker, Melbourne,
The reason for the lop-sidedness of the debate on immigration is surely that there are a lot of sincere racists out there. Even if you make a rational case for restricting immigration, the reality is that you're going to be shot with the birds you fly with. This article itself is likely to be cited by people such as MigrationWatch UK, so as soon as you try to introduce rationality to the debate you're seen to be supporting people it would be better to disassociate oneself from. Hobson's choice.
Max Christian, Seoul, Korea
The truth is that no UK government can limit immgration as long as the UK remains in the EU.
Dave can regurgitate tabloid headlines as much as he wants, but he could no more stop Poles moving to London than he could stop Scousers.
The fact that he still promises to deliver what he knows he can't is the sort of thing that fuels cynicism about politicians.
Bob, Liverpool, UK
Why don't the Tories embrace referendums?
The list of issues that the British people have never been consulted about includes not only immigration and hanging, but fundamental questions about the monarchy, BBC licence fee, British standard time, abortion, licencing laws, European Union membership, Human Rights laws, taxation of fatcat salaries and the war in Iraq, to mention but a few.
Could not a million citizens petition for a referendum on any subject? The government of the day could ignore the result and take its chances at the next election to see how important the public considers the issue as a whole.
Referndums are the next phase of enfanchisement. Trust the people.
And I suggest, Mr Portillo, this could be the 'big issue' that the Tories seek.
Les Emerton, Christchurch,
A sad article Michael,
I a native born Londoner who was so proud of our country am now in despair and really dislike living in this land now even more crowded by the world's disaffected allowed in without any control or with the approval of its native peoples.
As a life long voting Tory,Cameron's utterance on immigration is too little too late and smacks as you say of desperation.
I feel I no longer have any control over my life and will never vote for the any of the 3 main parties again.
Is this how a German felt in the 1930's before voting in Hitler to cure their ills?
I think so and now I will only vote or support a politican with radical policies to revert this disasterous policy of uncontrolled immigration of the many immigrants hostile to our way of life but thankful for absolutely no control on entering this once fair land.
Johnathon, Basingstoke,
Michael Portillo you are plain wrong. Brown is ahead from an expected bounce and a fair lump of good luck the floods, foot and mouth ect which gave him the opportunity to show leadership at a time when the press were over the Cameron honeymoon and ready to do what the British press is very good at and proceeded to 'run him down' after 'building him up'. Cameron foolishly gave them the ammunition with a trip abroad whilst his constituency was under water.
Right now Brown is down from ten points to eight and this slide will continue as he becomes entrenched in open warfare from the public workers and his backbenchers baying for a referendum on the proposed EU constitution. This in against a backdrop of a concerted effort by the Tories to regain the initiative which it seem is working.
I seldom disagree with you but on this issue I do, big time. You are simply plain wrong.
d case, newquay,
We'll be pandering to political correctness, regardless of the damage it does to our western culture. We can't hold the Christmas scene of Christs' manger because it may offend our immigrants..
We can't even wear a cricifix, never mind find a church in some of these immigrants countries!!
We have no rightsin their countries, and they keep demanding more here...when will we stand up? This is our country, don't like it? Go home to your bloody dictator!!
lionel, New York,
I thought Enoch Powell's real "crime" in the eyes of the leadership was that he tried to use immigration to unseat Edward Heath whom Powell saw as less worthy than himself as Leader of the Conservative Party ?
That Heath had to go on and pass the 1971 Immigration Act shows how far Powell had chosen an important issue but mishandled it
CCTV, Oxford, England
Enoc Powell was right. Doesn't England have representative government?
Erik Kengaard, Fairfax, Virginia
Yet again, Enoch Powell's famous speech has been described as "explosive". I do wonder whether Michael has looked at it recently. I have the text of that speech and to read it as it was written, free from tabloid headlines and misquotes, is very illuminating.
Rather than being explosive, the speech is a fine example of clear thinking and robust reasoning. If you compare the concerns expressed in the speech with what has actually happened since it was made, he was pretty close to the mark.
It wasn't the British public who threw him out - it was his colleagues, ably assisted by some yobs and the embryonic race relations industry.
I remember listening to Enoch Powell and Tony Benn debating regularly on the radio. Powell had a wonderful brain that the established politicians managed to remove from the service of the nation.
Ray Warren, Dartmouth,
Immigration will come back to haunt Politicians.
Our public services are collapsing under the pressure but still they dare not mention the dreaded word " IMMIGRATION ".
Brown and Cameron are cowards... oh where have all the heroes gone?
Alan Gray, London, UK
For years the elephant in the room has been immigration, but now, even MP is discussing immigration quite openly here, but lo, there still remains a huge elephant in the room - you might say son of elephant.
Immigration is an onion, just keep on peeling.
Fortunately, for those with a keen interest in the subject, the Internet dispensed with the elephant(s) ages ago.
Ron, UK,
Michael, I think on this you are way out , look at comments in all the papers & at what the bloggers are saying & unfailingly they are all talking about immgration.
I cheered when Cameron spoke on the Newsnight program, it was a first, he had the guts to say something we all long to hear.
However there two problems for the Tories, 1, they must all speak out on this issue 2, get behind their leader !!!
What's wrong with this party ? every time they choose a leader they then set about destroying him .
What a load of numb skulls they show themselves to be.
David Cameron can do this job, but like a marriage it takes two to make it work, him & the party members.
For heavens sake back the man , if ever the saying , ' your country needs you ' was true it is now.
Even Labour voters are fed up with what their leaders .
There is a need for a LOUD & unambiguous message on immigration & the EU, the Tories need to be singing from the same songsheet on these two radical issues , urgently & now !
Maggie Millington, Brittany , France
"But raising it now"
Cameron didn't raise it; the BBC did. What was he supposed to do, refuse to answer the question?
For a topic that took 3 out 45 minutes, it's the press that are making it an issue, not Cameron.
David, London,
The Tories need that rare quality in a politician these days - bravery. Second and third generations of those Commonwealth immigrants are largely as against immigration as the "natives". David Cameron should combine bravery to tackle this issue with guile to rebrand the issue. Don't call it "immigration"; call it "free movement of labour" or "an effective globalisation strategy for Britain". Cameron has a great up-side and an entirely manageable down-side.
Jitinder Singh, Croydon,
Thank you for writing this article. The West needs to save itself. The survival probability of Western Civilization is maximized by ending immigration.
Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ
Immigration - the issue that dare not speak its name - is an orphan issue. Future politicians will find that it will grow up to be a bullying thug of terrifying power. But today's lot will all be safely tucked up in their secured houses with their ring-fenced pensions so they don't have to worry themselves about it.
Peter, Oxford, England
Why is to have a view about immigration and multi-cultural you are classed as a racist. Why because those Members of Parliament in Westminster for the last 9 years have lied, cheated and betrayed the British people and lash out feisty at their failures.
Their open door policy have put a burden on all our services that are now ready for collapsing in to anarchy, and Labour, Tories or the Liberals can never stop Britain now declining in to a third world nation.
This is not about the Windrush days in the 50s and 60s when the Caribbean workers came to Britain, for most of them were good workers and worked as hard with us for a better life.
No this is about mass and uncontrolled immigration and the worlds criminals that can freely just walk in to our country, then given more rights that the indigenous British people.
john winston beatson, sheffield, yorkshire