Alan Johnson wants a debate on UK immigration

News today that Alan Johnson, the UK Home Secretary, is ready to open up a dialogue about UK immigration has come better late than never. For to long we have seen the concern over the Governments policies on immigration grow. Although this is limited to certain parts of society, the culmination has been the BNP gaining 2 seats in the European parliament and voices becoming more confident in numbers that ‘the party has a point.’ For an issue that has become completely misconstrued it has taken the Government far to long to dispel and blow away the myths about UK immigration.

Nick Griffin’s recent interview on BBC’s Newsnight appeared to do little but make a showcase of humiliating the party’s policies and views on UK immigration. The leader of the BNP was subjected to a TV appearance that could be likened to a public thrashing. At the time it seemed a non-sensical exercise in condemnation, for many commentators this was giving oxygen to a political party that deserved as little recognition as just that.

What was surprising about the interview, apart from the fact the whole format of the show was ripped in half and replaced with a verbal attack on Griffin, was that notwithstanding this and the obvious impression it gave the audience, the BNP party remained in some people’s eyes as a party with a valid standpoint.

The usual line of ‘I’m not racist, but…’ is the epitome of a person who is presented with no explanation of why immigration is important. Of course people with this viewpoint are usually referring to people seeking asylum, and in my mind where the problem lies. With no explanation they are left with what they see to be people from another country occupying flats in their area and as they do not speak much English also claiming benefits. This is the dog and bone that the BNP are peddling, and so far have been the single voice in an argument that most working class people understand.

This has seen serious effects outside of London, such as the race riots in parts of Lancashire, as animosity grew on both sides to such a level it spilt over. Yet it is only now that the Government seem to be twigging that the policy on UK immigration needs to be explained.

Of course no-one is saying that this will solve the problem of real racism, a problem that most people have with the BNP party, but it should mean that people will understand why people claim asylum, and why these people once in the UK can contribute to society as much as the next person.

We have the privilege in this country to be free from persecution and able to live our lives with no infringement to our human rights. We also have the advantage of any number of opportunities in the life that we lead. For this opportunity to be handed to another person to then credit this country with, to me, remains a great thing. I look forward to Alan Johnson’s proposal and no doubt will be commenting on the UK immigration debate in this blog.