24 January 2005
Howard: Firm but fair immigration controls
"The day I was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2003 I promised not to duck the problems that Britain faces - that if something was true but tough, I wouldn't shrink from saying it.
I said that I would not accept any policy no-go areas.
And I made clear that immigration must be strictly controlled.
I come from an immigrant family.
I understand that firm but fair immigration controls are essential for good community relations - as do the hundreds of thousands of other British families from immigrant backgrounds.
After the Bradford riots the Government set up its own Community Cohesion Panel. It concluded last July that:
"… inward immigration does create tensions … communities will perceive that newcomers are in competition for scarce resources and public services. The pressure on resources … is often intense and local services are often insufficient to meet the needs of the existing community, let alone newcomers".
So it's not racist, as some people claim, to talk about controlling immigration - far from it.
It is plain common sense - a vastly under rated quality in British politics today.
But a quality prized by the majority of people - a majority forgotten by Mr Blair.
Firm immigration controls are essential for good community relations. They are vital for the management of public services. And they are critical for the maintenance of national security.
That's why a Conservative Government will set an annual maximum limit to immigration.
I made clear when I announced the limit that we would set out in detail before the election exactly how it would work in practice.
Details matter.
They enable people to decide for themselves whether a policy is credible, achievable and sensible.
Details are the difference between a gimmick and a carefully thought through, deliverable plan.
Details turn talk into action.
When I was Home Secretary crime fell by 18 per cent in four years.
This had never happened before.
And it certainly hasn't happened since.
So I know how to get a job done.
You have to be clear about exactly what it is you want to achieve, you have to follow through what you start and you have to focus relentlessly on the details.
That's exactly what Oliver Letwin and I did last week.
We set out how a Conservative Government will deliver value for money and lower taxes.
No empty promises.
No "take us on trust".
No false prospectus.
And it's exactly what David Davis and I are doing today on asylum.
For centuries Britain has welcomed people from around the world.
We have a proud tradition of giving refuge to those fleeing persecution.
And we have offered a home to families who want to come here, work hard and make a positive contribution to our society.
Britain has benefited enormously from immigration - both economically and culturally.
We are a stronger, more successful country because of the immigrant communities that have settled here.
Many of them came to Britain with almost nothing and had to start again from scratch.
But hard work, determination and a willingness to integrate propelled them forward.
They are a credit to our community.
Britain has an enviable record of racial integration.
Over the years hundreds of immigrant communities have successfully integrated into British society.
Immigrant communities rightly held onto their traditions and culture, while also embracing Britain's and playing their full role in communities across the country.
But any system of immigration must be properly controlled and limited.
Mr Blair has presided over an unprecedented rise in immigration - it has more than doubled since Mr Blair came to power.
Nearly 160,000 people now settle in Britain each year - that is a city the size of Peterborough.
According to the Government's own predictions, Britain's population will grow by six million over the next thirty years of which five million will be due to immigration - that is equivalent to five times the population of Birmingham.
I think most people would agree that Britain has reached a turning point.
They know that our communities cannot successfully absorb newcomers at today's pace.
But Mr Blair's Government has turned a blind eye to their concerns.
We need to change direction.
We need a government that stops talking about this issue and acts.
So this is what a Conservative Government will do.
We will set an annual limit to immigration, including a quota for asylum seekers.
We will put in place 24-hour security at ports to prevent illegal immigration.
We will introduce an Australian-style points system for work permits - giving priority to people with the skills Britain needs.
And we will tighten the immigration rules to stop sham marriages.
Taken together our proposals will lead to a substantial reduction in the number of people settling in the UK.
They will ensure that Britain moves forward as a confident, diverse yet united society.
And they will create a fairer, more humane asylum system.
I accept totally that Britain has a moral obligation to help those fleeing persecution.
We live in a country which places great store on democracy, tolerance, fair play and freedom of speech.
That's what makes us so proud to be British.
And we must never forget the hundreds of thousands of people in the world who live in fear of their lives.
Britain has a duty to take our fair share of the world's refugees.
But today our asylum system is chaotic and unfair.
If we were inventing an asylum system today, we wouldn't come up with the current one:
- A system that makes it as difficult as possible for genuine refugees to claim asylum;
- A system that rewards deception; and
- A system that keeps the illegal trade in people smuggling going.
The majority of people who claim asylum are not genuine refugees.
They are simply using the asylum system as a means of getting round Britain's immigration controls.
This is wrong.
And the system is inhumane.
Genuine refugees can only claim asylum once they have made it to Britain.
This effectively forces them to come into the country either illegally or by deception - fuelling the international trade in people smuggling.
And in most cases it means a long and dangerous journey, which many deserving but frail and vulnerable refugees are simply not able to manage.
There is a better way.
We need to break the link between arriving in Britain and claiming asylum.
By breaking that link we can smash the criminal gangs at the heart of the trade in people smuggling.
And that is what we intend to do.
David Davis will explain the details of our asylum reform programme in a moment.
But before he does, let me finish by making it clear that although there are no easy answers to this challenge, I know what needs to be done.
And I have the political will to do it.
I entirely accept that immigration is part of a competitive, dynamic modern economy.
Conservative proposals for an Australian-style points system for work permits will ensure that priority is given to people with the skills Britain needs.
And enlargement of the European Union has dramatically increased the pool of labour - both skilled and unskilled - that is available to British employers. The ten new members of the EU have a combined population of roughly 75 million.
But immigration to Britain cannot continue at its present, uncontrolled levels.
To quote from the Government's own Community Cohesion Panel:
"The 'pace of change' is simply too great … at present".
I believe we must limit and control immigration.
There are literally millions of people in other countries who would like to come and live here.
Britain cannot take them all.
Firm but fair immigration controls are essential for good community relations, national security and the effective management of public services.
Mr Blair believes that immigration can continue unlimited.
To quote Labour's policy there "is no obvious upper legal limit to immigration".
So people will face a clear choice at the next election: unlimited immigration under Mr Blair or limited, controlled immigration with the Conservatives."
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Rt
Hon
Michael Howard QC MP |
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