Legal News
Open-door Immigration Did Impact Living Standards, Labour Admits (28 September 2011)
Date: 28/09/2011
The Labour Party’s open-door immigration policy did have an impact on wages and living standards, party leader Ed Miliband has claimed. Mr. Miliband admitted that Labour had failed to impose adequate border controls and stated that British workers had indeed been “undercut” by the policies that were in place. The confession came amid revelations that damaging reports concerning the impact of open-door immigration were concealed by the Labour Party. At the time, the Labour Party denied claims from opposing forces that migration would mean a tougher life for British workers.
Mr. Miliband conceded that the party had “got it wrong in a number of respects”. He admitted that the party had underestimated the significance of the level of immigration from Poland that, he claims, had a significant impact on British workers. Mr. Miliband reiterated that it is the government’s job to protect employees in the event of an open-door immigration policy. Yet Labour refuses to agree that the Tory commitment, aimed at reducing net migration to “tens of thousands” is the way forward. Mr. Miliband said that while Britain needs a “tough immigration policy”, he maintains that “free movement of labour is right for Britain.”
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, described Labour’s cover-up as “disturbing”, claiming that the Labour Party not only failed on immigration but also then attempted to bury the truth. Mr. Shapps stated that the Coalition is committed to bringing immigration under control in order to restore public faith in the system.
Immigration solicitors at Duncan Lewis can provide expert general and business immigration advice. All immigration team members have completed the Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS).