Francis Elliott, Chief Political Correspondent
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The Conservatives stepped up their attacks on immigration yesterday saying that strong controls were needed to improve cohesion in the community.
David Cameron had made his first significant intervention on the subject on Wednesday on Newsnight on BBC Two, which will be seen as the latest stage of his attempt to regain the political the momentum.
He said that immigration “has been too high” and claimed that primary schools being asked to take “20 new kids” was an example of the pressure immigration put on public services. Yesterday Damien Green, his immigration spokesman, denied that the remarks had indicated a shift to the right by the Conservatives.
He told the Today programme on Radio 4: “Local authorities in various parts of the country have pointed out the difficulties.
“For instance, in Slough, they found themselves suddenly having to find school places for large numbers of children who they didn’t know were there, who couldn’t speak English. That puts a huge strain on particular social services.
“Inevitably many of the incoming communities do cluster together, it’s a natural thing to do, and therefore if that’s unplanned and unexpected then it’s very difficult for the local authorities to cope.
“So actually having a firm immigration policy is a way of contributing to better community cohesion in this country.”
Mr Green denied that the Tories’ recent emphasis on crime, Europe and immigration was primarily intended to reassure traditional supporters.
He said: “In no way is this a move back to a core vote strategy.
“When you look at what David Cameron has been talking about over the past few weeks, he has talked about health, he has talked about crime, he has talked about social breakdown. He was asked a straight question about immigration policy last night and he gave a straight answer.” Mr Green added: “What’s happened over a long period is that all mainstream politicians have been very sensitive to the fact that, if you deal with issues like immigration, you have to deal with them in a moderate and sensitive tone.
“But I also believe very strongly that it is an issue that mainstream democratic politicians need to address because otherwise it leaves the floor clear for extremists, particularly on the far right.” He said it was an issue “people really care about” and therefore it was right for Mr Cameron to keep addressing it.

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The government should suspend all general immigration from outside the EU, Canada, Australia & NZ for the next 5 years. They should then set annual quota's determined by Parliament and decadal cap's on those quota's set by national refferendum. AND they should abolish the Human Rights Act, the Geneva Convention where it applies to terrorists and ununiformed insurgents, should repeal all our treaty bound committments to international refugee's and should give special excemption to females fleeing hyper-androcentric societies who have converted to our national religion or to non-denominational Atheism. Furthermore legislation should be passed giving the government the power and the obligation to impose birth control measures on the ethnic minorities of the UK, if their numbers should rise beyond 25% of the overall permanent residential population. Then the government should ban CofE or former CofE places of worship from being converted into a place of any other religion.
Chris Gibbons, London, UK
Yes peter, we do believe what Cameron now says as at last he is beginning to respond to the wishes and interests of the majority of the British public.
Alan Tucker, Slough, UK
Good to see that the Conservatives are maintaining their stance on immigration. It is something that concerns many people in this country, and has not been addressed by the present Government.
Alex, London, London,
At last somebody in westminster has realised that 'BRITAIN IS FULL'
Sid Jacques, Durham,
It's about time ONE of the political parties DID swing to the Right. A lot of otherwise fairly tolerant and liberal minded people in this country are sick and tired of the bumbling, incompetent PC- led ditherings of 'New' Labour over issues such as crime, immigration and social breakdown coupled with their incessant need to persecute and tax law- abiding, working citizens. Teenagers can readily get hold of guns but the government announces a crack down on 'middle class wine binge drinkers' who may be harming themselves and costing the NHS money! These people PAY for the NHS- and everything else in this Country. Cameron's just another public school boy who thinks running the country is a: 'jolly jape' . We need to get rid of all of these idiots and start having some sensible discussions on what this Country should be, where the real issues (including immigration) are openly and fully discussed. I predit a huge increase in the BNP vote unless the two main parties address real concerns.
Dan, Oxford, England
Bill Rees, Truro,
Five years ago the UK economy wasn't dependent on Polish immigrants, so why would it be now?
If workers in the multitude of industries you mention stopped sending half their income overseas, it would be a good thing for Britain.
Oh, and if all the cheap foreign labour disappeared, perhaps the complacent employers encouraged by Labour's lax immigration policies would start paying slightly above the minimum wage, and British people would get off the dole and fill the vacancies you seem to think we need Poles for.
(by the way - it's affect, not effect).
j griffiths, manchester, England
Cameron is weak and hopeless. He had nothing to say about the unemployment being caused by immigration and the growth of the British underclass, and, of course, he would not be able to do anything about EU immigration anyway.
David Scott, Chester,
Cameron will continue to do U TURNS on a daily basis as he is in panic mode with his present poll ratings.Unfortunately the off the cuff statements are never backed up with any details of how he woulds solve the problems.If you stop in Polish workers coming in it will effect every industry in the UK, food processing , agriculture, service industry, nursing homes, tourist hospitality industry ,engineering , building industry and public transport.How is Cameron going to fill the labour shortage without hitting the economy maybe he will return to the old Tory Party policy of creating unemployment. Thats what happend on a regular 4 year cycle prior to Labour getting in power.
Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall
Does anyone still believe a word of what Cameron says? Not long ago he called his Party's core voters "racists". Get rid of him.
peter, London,
Vote BNP Dave
John Merritt, Oxted, Surrey
Yes, Cameron's only '...addressing it' but without the antics of this so-called âfar rightâ he wouldnât have even touched upon it. And all this talk about the 'far right.' For Godâs sake, what is this âfar rightâ that everybodyâs so frightened of if not just plain sensible policies that have got lost somewhere along the way ever since this brutal style of Left wing fascism took over. And all this hand wringing and needing to justify whenever anything to do with immigration is mentioned and politicians assuring each other that this is not a lurch to the right as if the left has the monopoly on morality (a quick look at the history books shows them to be far worse). All that this demonstrates is how far all of them/us have become brainwashed by the loony leftâs policies. I for one am ready for a revolution. Iâve had enough of this nonsense and I want somebody in power who will actually do something about the things that I care about.
stevgillamos, Romford,