In the next edition of The Spectator, an interesting story emerges on Clegg’s u-turn on immigration and embracing social conservative attitudes;
Nick Clegg is currently preparing a big speech on immigration; it would have been given last week but for the Eastleigh by-election. He wants to address the fact that even those voters with an open mind towards his party view it as soft on immigration. In 2015, there’ll be no repeat of the last manifesto’s promise of earned amnesty for illegal immigrants. But some in the Clegg circle want to go further than that. One influential member of it has come to the view that transition controls on new EU members, which limit the right of free movement, should last for 20 years not seven. This wonk suggests that if Turkey ever did join, then transition controls would have to be based on per capita GDP to prevent an unsustainable level of immigration.
At the last General Election, the Liberal Democrats rightly argued the benefits of immigration and why an amnesty was required for illegal immigrants. In the last three years, the u-turn has occurred. Clegg wants to embrace illiberal attitudes and restrict the free movement of people.
Immigration controls are wrong. It is our right, as humans, to freely move around the planet to live, work or travel; it is a fundamental part of social liberalism.
An open world, is a more richer and freer one.
Sadly, no political party in Britain dares to publicly celebrate the virtues and benefits of immigration.
danielfurr
