This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/15/former-australian-pm-john-howard-tells-david-cameron-to-secure-uk-borders

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Former Australian PM John Howard tells David Cameron to secure UK borders Former Australian PM John Howard tells David Cameron to secure UK borders
(1 day later)
The former Australian prime minister, John Howard, has told a conservative thinktank in London that the British prime minister, David Cameron, can’t curb an influx of migrants “unless he regains control of his borders”.The former Australian prime minister, John Howard, has told a conservative thinktank in London that the British prime minister, David Cameron, can’t curb an influx of migrants “unless he regains control of his borders”.
After addressing the Centre for Policy Studies on Tuesday night, Howard was asked what advice he would give Cameron when millions of people were trying to get into Britain, as well as other European nations.After addressing the Centre for Policy Studies on Tuesday night, Howard was asked what advice he would give Cameron when millions of people were trying to get into Britain, as well as other European nations.
“Well, he can’t really do anything about that unless he regains control of his borders, it’s as simple as that,” Howard said.“Well, he can’t really do anything about that unless he regains control of his borders, it’s as simple as that,” Howard said.
“I know I’m straying into domestic politics and I’m not meant to do that ... maybe former prime ministers can?”“I know I’m straying into domestic politics and I’m not meant to do that ... maybe former prime ministers can?”
Related: Lynton Crosby: the man who really won the election for the Tories
Howard, who introduced tough measures to deter boat people when he was prime minister, said not having control of borders was one of the consequences of being part of a multinational body – the European Union.Howard, who introduced tough measures to deter boat people when he was prime minister, said not having control of borders was one of the consequences of being part of a multinational body – the European Union.
He said he felt for the Italians who had a “terrible” problem with tens of thousands of migrants crossing by boat from North Africa.He said he felt for the Italians who had a “terrible” problem with tens of thousands of migrants crossing by boat from North Africa.
“I wouldn’t like to be in that situation. I think there’s an extraordinary humanitarian challenge but there’s a limit to how many people any country can take.”“I wouldn’t like to be in that situation. I think there’s an extraordinary humanitarian challenge but there’s a limit to how many people any country can take.”
Howard said the Asian region had its own challenges with the “persecution” of the Rohingya people in Burma and the migrant problem that created.Howard said the Asian region had its own challenges with the “persecution” of the Rohingya people in Burma and the migrant problem that created.
On the UK and its own migrant issues he said they were “matters that the British government and the British people have to grapple with”.On the UK and its own migrant issues he said they were “matters that the British government and the British people have to grapple with”.