Friday, 27 September – Thursday, 03 October 2013 ISSUE 501
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Britain’s Prime Minister talks exclusively to African Voice SEE PAGES 2 & 3
Simple changes we must make to fight the diabetes disaster
SEE PAGE 22
Public opinion inhibits rational immigration policy
Business minister claims ‘toxic’ views inform decisions By Alan Oakley
Activists at last week’s Liberal Democrat autumn conference have been told by coalition business minister, Vince Cable, that ‘toxic’ public opinion in the UK makes it difficult for politicians to make a sensible, business-based case for immigration. Addressing a fringe meeting at the conference in Glasgow, Mr Cable said that it was difficult to make an “economically rational case” for immigration because “we are dealing with an absolutely toxic public opinion”. As Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mr Cable has long asserted that foreign workers are vital for the British economy. He has also argued that international students make a valuable contribution of about £12bn a year to the UK economy. However, he has found that his pro-immigration views have met with op-
position, both in the press and from within government. Immigration has turned out to be a major bone of contention between the two coalition parties, occasionally giving rise to public spats. Most recently, Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat member for Brent Central constituency, announced she was stepping down as an MP having become depressed by a Government plan to introduce ‘security bonds’ for people coming to the UK from so-called high risk countries. Since the coalition came to power in 2010, measures attributed chiefly to the Conservative contingent have seen the net annual immigration level fall from about 250,000 to about 150,000. Mark Harper, the Government’s immigration minister, has said that he expects to meet David Cameron’s “tens of thousands” target – taken to mean below 100,000 - by 2015.
Continued on page 19
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Vince Cable MP, made his comments at the Liberal Democrats’ autumn conference
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