Let’s debate immigration – Johnson’s plea to Scots
home secretary campaigns in Glasgow as BNP leader meets city voters
Published:
Home Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday called for a debate on immigration pitched at Britain’s “moderate majority” as he hit the campaign trail in the Glasgow North East by-election.
Speaking as BNP leader Nick Griffin also campaigned there, he said: “Let’s not have a debate as if, on the one hand, there’s an argument for an open door policy and on the other the argument is to close the door completely.
“No one in mainstream politics is arguing for any of those alternatives. And it would help counter the BNP threat if we had the debate the moderate majority of people in this country want to see around those issues and did not shy away from it.”
Both Mr Johnson and Chancellor Alistair Darling, also campaigning in the constituency, rounded on the BNP leader.
Mr Griffin claimed to have had a good response and said his party stood a serious chance of coming third in Thursday’s poll, widely seen a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP.
Mr Griffin made three swift tours of shopping areas.
In one, Springburn, three young people heckled his entourage with cries of “Nazi scum off our streets”.
But most shoppers gave him a polite hearing, and drivers in Duke Street hooted their horns in support.
Mr Darling said: “People should be under no illusion as to how unpleasant and nasty the BNP is.
“I think their policies are deeply unpleasant and I hope people will reject them.”
And Mr Johnson insisted: “The people of Glasgow will send them away with a flea in their ear.”
Mr Griffin said: “I didn’t take Britain to war on a lie of weapons of mass destruction, I haven’t bankrupted the country, and I haven’t wrecked Glasgow.
“The Labour Party has done all these three things.”
Mr Griffin said he had a better response in Glasgow than many parts of England.
He predicted Labour will hold the seat vacated by former Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin, and added: “We are in with a serious chance of third place.”
But Mr Johnson doubted that the BNP would make any inroads in Scotland.
He said: “The moderate majority in this country accept the economic case for immigration, accept we should have a civilised system dealing with asylum seekers.
“They don’t want an open door policy – just as well because we don’t have an open door policy and never have.”
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, also on the campaign trail yesterday, said: “I met a lot of people worried about Labour’s recession.
“Liberal Democrats are offering new ideas, new hope and are the real alternative.”
SNP candidate David Kerr accused the Labour government in London of “ripping off” Glasgow by not giving the city £300million for the 2014 Commonwealth Games while handing London that sum for the 2012 Olympics.
He told voters: “Why is it Labour think they can short change Glasgow, but take your support for granted?”
Readers' Comments
It's the left's obsession with diversity and multiculturalism that drives people to the BNP. Britain is being changed beyond all recognition through mass immigration and the public has never been consulted. IT's extraordinary when you really think about it.
Jane Smith
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Britain would shut down if not for the immigration workers, dont ever forget that, you are under an illusion if you think they just take social benefits
bob seivwright
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They are taking a lot more than social benefits, our national identity for one.
Robert Horne
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