Opinion Austerity and the outsider
Britain needs a grown-up debate on immigration,not tabloid scaremongering
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In any discussion of British public policy themes that bear a strong emotional resonance with the electorate,immigration is likely to be right up there. Over the past few weeks,immigration has returned to the political limelight,with all mainstream party leaders including the British prime minister feeling the need to publicly clarify their stance. If this were to be seen as an attempt to begin a grown-up debate across the political spectrum,that would surely be a welcome development. But the headlong rush towards collective toughness and gimmicky posturing suggests otherwise. The toxic conflation of immigration with the politics of austerity has injected a stridency into this debate that may be ultimately counterproductive to Britains long-term interests.
The latest intervention in this contentious and recurrent debate comes from David Cameron. In a widely aired speech,the British PM has sought to propose a welter of restrictions on migrants,including those from the European Union,from claiming social security benefits,social housing and perceived misuse of the National Health Service (NHS). Not to be outdone,the Labour party also seems to have recently discovered a renewed appetite for talking tough on immigration. The main opposition leadership has had little embarrassment in issuing apologies for failing to be more robust in this arena in the past. In this race to appear determined and hard-hitting,the Liberal Democrats have also proposed a £1,000 bond for visitors from high-risk countries this from a party that was once brave enough to contemplate a controversial amnesty for illegal migrants.
What might explain this sudden outpouring on immigration across the political spectrum? Part of this might be understood as a response to a recent by-election that saw the UK Independence Party (UKIP) leap-frog into second place,ahead of the Tories. The UKIPs success in campaigning on a firm anti-immigration and anti-EU prospectus has certainly played a key role in spooking the mainstream parties into launching an unabashed denunciation of immigration. The prospect of transitional restrictions on EU migrants from Bulgaria and Romania lifting later this year has also played its role in cultivating fears of the floodgates opening. But the real reason in the escalation of rhetoric lies in the politics of austerity. With the economy in the doldrums,welfare budgets facing spiralling cuts and living standards under severe pressure,concerns over immigration have a fearful edge to them. In such an atmosphere,the caricature of migrants as scroungers and a drain on public services has tended to be politically expedient.
None of this is to imply that an in-depth discussion on the benefits and limits of immigration should be avoided. It does fall on political parties to conduct a well-informed and nuanced debate on the issues. That also involves the acceptance of past lapses where the failures were plainly evident,such as the Labour partys spectacular misreading of the anticipated numbers from Eastern Europe after 2004. It also involves a focus on effective law enforcement. The overwhelming ineptitude of the UK Border Agency in discharging its monitoring function should not serve as an excuse to taint the vast majority of legitimate entrants.
To be fair,though,a spurt in the number of arrivals over the past decade has put a strain on some local authorities. For that matter,qualms over social fragmentation deserve close attention too. But mainstream politicians also need to speak of the more positive economic and cultural aspects of fostering a society able to reinvent and adapt to a changing world. The blunt truth is that the overwhelming number of migrants come to the UK to seek work,pay taxes and contribute to the economy. They also tend to be young,are less likely to claim welfare handouts than the indigenous population and also less susceptible to seek expensive treatment from the NHS. Tabloid scaremongering that revolves on exceptions to the norm might sell more copies but it cannot obscure this reality. Nor can a largely ageing society overlook the merits of a carefully managed immigration policy that will bring a younger workforce to support the pension,social care and welfare demands of a greying generation.
There is little doubt that Britain needs a mature and rational discourse on immigration. But that conversation should also draw inspiration from the countrys deep-rooted tradition of assimilation,tolerance and openness. That said,the politics of austerity has unfortunately made it harder for a reasoned debate to take place. Yet for Britains long-term interests,a flexible and open-minded approach to immigration is necessary. Whether mainstream political parties in Britain can bring themselves to acknowledge this inescapable truth remains to be seen.
The writer is a London-based lawyer,express@expressindia.com
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