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UKIP leader Nigel Farage defends HIV remarks | UKIP leader Nigel Farage defends HIV remarks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has defended comments suggesting immigrants who are HIV-positive should not be allowed to come to the UK. | UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has defended comments suggesting immigrants who are HIV-positive should not be allowed to come to the UK. |
In an interview in Newsweek Europe, Mr Farage said he wanted to "control the quantity and quality of people who come... people who do not have HIV". | In an interview in Newsweek Europe, Mr Farage said he wanted to "control the quantity and quality of people who come... people who do not have HIV". |
Mr Farage later told the BBC he would extend the ban to "people with tuberculosis too". | Mr Farage later told the BBC he would extend the ban to "people with tuberculosis too". |
Campaigners have condemned the UKIP leader's comments. | Campaigners have condemned the UKIP leader's comments. |
The interview was published on the same day that UKIP won its first parliamentary seat in the Clacton by-election and came a close second in the Heywood and Middleton by-election. | The interview was published on the same day that UKIP won its first parliamentary seat in the Clacton by-election and came a close second in the Heywood and Middleton by-election. |
Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK's public services could not cope with extra demand created by people with severe medical conditions coming to Britain. | Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK's public services could not cope with extra demand created by people with severe medical conditions coming to Britain. |
"We want people to come who have got trades and skills, but we don't want people who have got criminal records - and we can't afford people with life-threatening diseases," he said. | "We want people to come who have got trades and skills, but we don't want people who have got criminal records - and we can't afford people with life-threatening diseases," he said. |
"I do not think people with life-threatening diseases should be treated by our National Health Service and that is an absolute essential condition for working out a proper immigration policy. | "I do not think people with life-threatening diseases should be treated by our National Health Service and that is an absolute essential condition for working out a proper immigration policy. |
"We have leading cancer experts in Britain saying the burden now of treating overseas people is leading to huge shortages in the system." | "We have leading cancer experts in Britain saying the burden now of treating overseas people is leading to huge shortages in the system." |
He added the UK should follow similar bans he said were in place in the United States and Australia. | He added the UK should follow similar bans he said were in place in the United States and Australia. |
Mr Carswell's father is an eminent physician who is regarded as having been one of the first medical researchers to identify HIV while working in Uganda. | |
During a walkabout in Clacton, Mr Carswell declined to comment on Mr Farage's remarks but called for "an Australian-type immigration system, with control over our borders". | |
About 40% of new HIV diagnoses in 2013 were of people born outside the UK, according to Public Health England. | About 40% of new HIV diagnoses in 2013 were of people born outside the UK, according to Public Health England. |
Tory defector and UKIP candidate for the parliamentary seat of Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless, said he did not believe there should be a blanket ban on people with HIV entering the country. | Tory defector and UKIP candidate for the parliamentary seat of Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless, said he did not believe there should be a blanket ban on people with HIV entering the country. |
Open door | Open door |
He added he believed the Mr Farage's comments, as reported by Newsweek Europe, were misleading. | He added he believed the Mr Farage's comments, as reported by Newsweek Europe, were misleading. |
In his interview with Newsweek Europe Mr Farage is quoted as saying immigrants from outside Europe are "discriminated against because we have an open door into Europe today". | In his interview with Newsweek Europe Mr Farage is quoted as saying immigrants from outside Europe are "discriminated against because we have an open door into Europe today". |
Mr Farage added: "If you're an Indian engineer, say, your chances of admission are limited. UKIP want to control the quantity and quality of people who come." | Mr Farage added: "If you're an Indian engineer, say, your chances of admission are limited. UKIP want to control the quantity and quality of people who come." |
The UKIP leader then went on to define what he meant by "quality". | The UKIP leader then went on to define what he meant by "quality". |
"It's simple. That Latvian convicted murderer shouldn't have been allowed here. Yes and people who do not have HIV, to be frank. That's a good start. And people with a skill." | "It's simple. That Latvian convicted murderer shouldn't have been allowed here. Yes and people who do not have HIV, to be frank. That's a good start. And people with a skill." |
"What are those words inscribed under the Statue of Liberty? 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses . . . ' What you're saying is: 'Bring me your electricians, your merchant bankers and your guys without HIV'." | "What are those words inscribed under the Statue of Liberty? 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses . . . ' What you're saying is: 'Bring me your electricians, your merchant bankers and your guys without HIV'." |
"There are 190 countries in the world," Mr Farage added, "that operate like that". | "There are 190 countries in the world," Mr Farage added, "that operate like that". |
'Ignorant' | 'Ignorant' |
In Australia, migrants are required to answer a series of questions about their skills and personal circumstances, for which they are awarded points. | In Australia, migrants are required to answer a series of questions about their skills and personal circumstances, for which they are awarded points. |
Applicants need at least 65 points or their request for a visa will be rejected. However, there is no mention of personal health as one of the factors taken into account. | Applicants need at least 65 points or their request for a visa will be rejected. However, there is no mention of personal health as one of the factors taken into account. |
Those applying for permanent residency in the US or naturalisation need to undergo a medical screening for inadmissible health-related conditions. | Those applying for permanent residency in the US or naturalisation need to undergo a medical screening for inadmissible health-related conditions. |
The Terrence Higgins Trust said the UKIP leader's remarks displayed a "new level of ignorance". | The Terrence Higgins Trust said the UKIP leader's remarks displayed a "new level of ignorance". |
"The idea that having HIV should be used as a black mark against someone's name is ridiculous and shows an outrageous lack of understanding of the issue," the charity's chief executive Rosemary Gillespie said. | "The idea that having HIV should be used as a black mark against someone's name is ridiculous and shows an outrageous lack of understanding of the issue," the charity's chief executive Rosemary Gillespie said. |
"In bracketing those living with the condition with murderers, and suggesting there is no place for them in his vision of Britain, Mr Farage has stooped to a new level of ignorance. He should be truly ashamed," she added. | "In bracketing those living with the condition with murderers, and suggesting there is no place for them in his vision of Britain, Mr Farage has stooped to a new level of ignorance. He should be truly ashamed," she added. |