Absolutely right - I've stood in local elections, general elections and knocked on 1000s of doors in years of political campaigning right across the country and the only subject that ever gets raised on the doorstep is immigration. Not MP's expenses, not the economy, not other worries - always immigration. In northern towns and cities particularly immigration concerns are depressingly relentless.
And it's not racism that fuels this but genuine concerns regarding the impact on schools (3 teacher translators in a classroom for example), housing and benefits. Labour during their last term in office dumped on their working class voters - many a plaster, plumber, electrician was put of business because they simply couldn't compete with immigrants who significantly undercut them - and could afford to. The comments by
Gillian Duffy came as no surprise to anyone who took part in the 2010 election
When I helped leaflet in Barnsley in the last by-election our women helpers were shown a map of which areas to avoid because they would get physically attacked for not wearing a burkha.
Many a northern town is a tinderbox waiting to go up, I'm surprised it hasn't before.
I must admit there probably are racial distinctions to be made as we look on at the riots (the most obvious distinction is that there are more men than women looters?)
However wtf has most of this post got to do with Tottenham?
Call me a liberal but I would like racial groups to converge in opportunity and achievement. I'm sick of Chinese and Indians and White Irish out performing White Brits at 16 and if I was black or Pakistani I'd be sick of being outperformed even by white brits.
If women without burkhas being at risk in certain areas is a problem then what is the problem with having translators in classes? This will be good for the future unless you want to keep certain groups from achieving and integrating.
Then the East European plumbers. Yeah, ain't the EU shit. Why couldn't we have just kept jobs for the likes of Paul fucking Hart and Graham Paedo Rix instead of going for some unproven Italian.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm wary of immigrants but I support our immigrants, whether at STFC or in England.
I'd draw the line at Eric though.
