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Phillips warns of race 'cold war'

Sun Apr 20 11:20:46 UTC 2008

UK told not to fear immigration

Sun Apr 20 15:20:47 UTC 2008

The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission says tension over immigration is leading to a "cold war" among rival ethnic communities.

The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission says the UK must not "cower in fear and fret" about admitting "clever foreigners".

Trevor Phillips will speak later to mark the 40th anniversary of Enoch Powell's "rivers of blood" speech.Trevor Phillips was delivering a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of Enoch Powell's "rivers of blood" speech.
He will warn that Mr Powell's extreme views discredited planning and control, so that the government "knew too little about what was going on".He said the public must not "confuse immigration and terrorism" and called for a new debate because of “creeping resentment" towards immigration.
The government says new measures will ensure Britain has tougher controls.The government says new measures will ensure Britain has tougher controls.
Although Mr Phillips will say Mr Powell's apocalyptic predictions have not come true, he will acknowledge mass immigration has caused a different kind of conflict.Mr Phillips delivered his speech at the Midland Hotel, which is the same Birmingham hotel where Mr Powell sparked a major public debate in 1968.
"Powell predicted 'hot' conflict and violence. However, we have seen the emergence of a kind of cold war in some parts of the country, where very separate communities exist side by side... with poor communication across racial or religious lines," Mr Phillips is expected to say.
Ironically, Powellism and the weakening of control it engendered may have led Britain to admitting more immigrants rather than fewer
Trevor Phillips
Powell's 'rivers of blood' legacy
Because Mr Powell discredited any talk of planning or control, it gave rise to a "migration policy in which government knew too little about what was going on", he will continue.
"Ironically, Powellism and the weakening of control it engendered may have led Britain to admitting more immigrants rather than fewer."
Mr Phillips is expected to warn ministers they are helping to boost the support for anti-immigration parties such as the BNP by failing to deal with the concerns of sections of the "settled" population - such as professionals and young mothers.
"For every professional woman who is able to go out to work because she has a Polish nanny, there is a young mother who watches her child struggle in a classroom where a harassed teacher faces too many children with too many languages between them.
"Wanting a better deal for her child doesn't make her anti-immigrant. But if we can't find a better answer to her despair then she soon will be."
Virgil quote
He will add that while professionals may appreciate the ability to import skilled IT or health professionals, many will also wonder "why they have to put up with the misery of a packed railway carriage or bus - if they can get on in the first place".
"Wanting an infrastructure that doesn't make getting to work daily hell doesn't make someone a natural voter for an anti-immigrant party. But it soon will."
Mr Phillips will deliver his speech at the Midland Hotel - the same Birmingham hotel where Mr Powell sparked public debate in 1968.
The then shadow frontbencher warned of social tensions in pockets of Britain - such as Wolverhampton - if mass immigration continued. The then shadow frontbencher warned of social tensions in pockets of Britain - such as Wolverhampton - if mass immigration continued.
Like the Roman, I seem to see the river Tiber foaming with much blood
Enoch Powell
1968: Powell slates immigration
He compared racial tensions in the United States to the Roman poet Virgil's description of "the River Tiber foaming with much blood" and said anti-discrimination laws were like "throwing a match on to gunpowder".He compared racial tensions in the United States to the Roman poet Virgil's description of "the River Tiber foaming with much blood" and said anti-discrimination laws were like "throwing a match on to gunpowder".
While we cower in fear and fret about whether to admit clever foreigners from other nations - America, Australia and Canada are already sailing on that tide of talent
Trevor Phillips
Powell's 'rivers of blood' legacy
Mr Phillips said it was time for another examination of the issues surrounding immigration to ensure Britain kept up with a "tide of talent" that was available from around the world.
He said: "Whatever we feel about immigrants, immigration is part of our future.
"The real question will be whether we can, as a modern economy, seize the restless tide of talent that is currently sweeping across the globe. So far we are lagging behind our competitors.
"But while we cower in fear and fret about whether to admit clever foreigners from other nations - America, Australia and Canada are already sailing on that tide of talent.
"There is creeping resentment in all directions which can only be halted by policy of manifest fairness.
"I believe that the more we talk about immigration the better. Many think that this is not the time or the place for this debate. I understand their anxieties.
"If we cannot talk about it now, then when?"
'Hearts and minds'
During his speech Mr Phillips was asked questions from the crowd of about 200 people, including a query on the issue of terrorism.
He said: "Let's not confuse immigration and terrorism.
"Very few terrorist incidents are what I would describe as immigrants. One of the shocks we had from 7/7 is that this is home-grown.
"We can do a lot more to ensure that the ground is not fertile for those who want to win the hearts and minds of young people.
Like the Roman, I seem to see the river Tiber foaming with much blood
Enoch Powell
1968: Powell slates immigration
"We have to convince all young people that this is a fair country that will give them a fair chance."
Mr Phillips also later told the BBC that the UK had to take steps to encourage "talented" immigrants to come to this country.
He said: "We need to make sure that we are a country that's attractive to those immigrants, and that also we can integrate them or give them a place in an integrated society.
"We need a policy of managed migration but we also need a policy of active integration to make sure that we can get the best of immigration but also minimise the costs of it."
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said that the British public was "right to demand changes to Britain's immigration system".Immigration minister Liam Byrne said that the British public was "right to demand changes to Britain's immigration system".
He added: "That is why 2008 sees the biggest changes for 45 years including a points system like the one in Australia, a single border force, compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals and the reintroduction for a system to count people in and out of Britain so we know precisely who is here."He added: "That is why 2008 sees the biggest changes for 45 years including a points system like the one in Australia, a single border force, compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals and the reintroduction for a system to count people in and out of Britain so we know precisely who is here."
Shadow home secretary David Davis said Mr Phillips was raising "a brave and timely warning" about losing control of immigration.Shadow home secretary David Davis said Mr Phillips was raising "a brave and timely warning" about losing control of immigration.
"Whilst managed immigration is for the benefit of the country, uncontrolled immigration can lead to serious problems for the whole nation," he said."Whilst managed immigration is for the benefit of the country, uncontrolled immigration can lead to serious problems for the whole nation," he said.
A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said policy changes would ensure Britain had "one of the toughest borders in the world".A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said policy changes would ensure Britain had "one of the toughest borders in the world".
"Understanding the impacts of migration on communities and public services is essential, which is why the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) was set up," she added."Understanding the impacts of migration on communities and public services is essential, which is why the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) was set up," she added.
"We need to strike a balance in Britain's migration policy, weighing the economic benefits with frontline feedback about wider impacts.""We need to strike a balance in Britain's migration policy, weighing the economic benefits with frontline feedback about wider impacts."