Latest Immigration figues 'not credible'

A rececent press release from Migration Watch.

Figures out today from the Office of National Statistics regarding the numbers of East Europeans coming to the UK are ‘simply not credible’ says think-tank Migrationwatch.
They show, say the ONS, that in the period mid 2005 to mid 2006 there was a fall of 17,000 to 57,000, which amounts to only 1 in 5 of net foreign immigration of 281,000. In the same period approximately 210,000 East Europeans registered for work.

This total does not include the self-employed, nor dependants. ‘It is simply not credible that only 57,000 stayed on,’ said Migrationwatch chairman, Sir Andrew Green. ‘The explanation may lie in the fact that the passenger survey asks about intentions.

There is anecdotal and survey evidence to suggest that East Europeans often come on spec and decide to stay longer. ‘This once again highlights that the Government has no real grip of immigration or any meaningful idea of the true number coming to and leaving the UK which makes planning for these large population increases extremely difficult.’ He said the ONS press release was also misleading in suggesting that immigration contributes only 55% of population growth.

This figure only includes new arrivals, ignoring the children that they will later have.
Other work by the ONS shows that immigrants and their descendants will account for about 83% of population growth (Population Trends number 118, page 11).

Finally, the net immigration figure of 189,000,remains consistent with the government’s estimate that, over the next 20 years, 1 in 3 new households will be a result of immigration. ‘It is clear from these figures that immigration is continuing unchecked and continues to break all previous records – despite the fact this is opposed by the vast majority of the public,’ he said.

FA stunned by Jack Warner World Cup attack

The head of the Football Association, Geoff Thompson, has written to the Fifa vice-president Jack Warner to ask him to explain his extraordinary attack on England's plans to host the 2018 World Cup.

In an interview for the BBC World Service to be broadcast on Saturday, Warner vowed to fight England's ambitions to stage the tournament and claimed the 1966 World Cup winners were an "irritant" who had never had any impact on international football.

Outspoken: Jack Warner will play a key role in the race for 2018
The outburst from Warner, who as president of the North American and Caribbean Confederation (CONCACAF) is one of the most powerful figures in the game, left senior FA figures "astonished" and "disappointed". The remarks come as England prepare to embark on a campaign to persuade Fifa to establish a new system of rotation for the competition which would see it played in Europe every 12 years.

In his interview with the BBC, Warner makes it clear he will do all he can to fight any bid from Europe to stage the World Cup in 2018. "If by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it," said Warner, 64.
"It'll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England - who invented the sport - has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant. There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=VEZEBRLBP3N0PQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/sport/2007/08/10/sfnbon110.xml

An attack on the FA or the insane ramblings of a madman. FIFA is supposed to be neutral and this idiot should be stripped of his position.

A new low for Channel 4

Presumably as part of its continuing campaign to remain the most controversial television channel in Britain, Channel 4 last night broadcast an interview with a jihadi sympathiser who explicitly advocates the taking up of arms by British Muslims.

In the course of his appearance on the prime-time Dispatches programme, Abu Muhammed (who has been banned from entering Britain) justified the suicide bombings of July 7, 2005 on the grounds that "if somebody is committing aggression against you, you commit aggression towards him". He appears to believe that the murder of 52 civilians, many of whom were not British and some of whom were Muslim, somehow qualifies as an appropriate retaliation for those aspects of Anglo-American foreign policy that he sees as constituting aggression against Islam.

That an Islamic fundamentalist should utter something so logically and morally indefensible is scarcely surprising. That a major broadcasting organisation should present it as a contribution to meaningful debate would be shocking - if it were within the bounds of possibility to be shocked by anything done by Channel 4.

Even more disturbing than Mr Muhammed's apologia for terrorist acts within this country is his advice to British Muslims to arm themselves and "fight back" against the non-believers who attempt to come into their homes and invade their privacy - by which, we assume, he means the police and security services who investigate terrorist activity.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/07/ntv107.xml

EU Referendum

We demand that the Government stand by their manifesto commitment to hold a national referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

Take 2 minutes to sign the online petition in the hope that our corrupt goverment might actually listen to the people who put them in power.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?grid=F18&petition=europe&view=PETITION&xml=/news/2007/06/25/view25a.xml

Gurkha veterans must be allowed to live in UK

Two thousand Gurkha veterans should be allowed to live in Britain because their heroic service demonstrates the "strongest ties" to this country, a tribunal heard today.

Retired Nepalese soldiers who left the Army before the rules changed 10 years ago are not automatically allowed to remain in Britain.Many were posted back to the Himalayan kingdom just before discharge and then refused the right to return.
Despite having some of the most distinguished careers in the Armed Forces, they were told their links with this country were not strong enough.Now, in a landmark case which could decide the rights of 2,000 Gurkha veterans, 44 are challenging Immigration Service policy.

David Enright, representing the men who between them have 700 years of service and 170 medals for valour, said it was hard to think of any group of people having a stronger link to Britain.He said: "War wounds, decorations won in battle, swearing allegiance to the Crown, serving for decades, fighting in battle and being injured, guarding the Queen, your father and grandfather serving the Queen, paying income tax to the Exchequer."These demonstrate the strongest ties to the UK. You could not find a stronger link and they should be considered in the particular circumstances of the Gurkhas who have rendered such sterling service for over 200 years."

Since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, Gurkhas are almost automatically entitled to live in Britain after completing at least four years of service - even if it was "just polishing boots in the barracks". But those who retired before that date have to rely on the discretion of the British entry clearance officer and the diplomatic service procedure. This states that only those who can demonstrate "strong ties" are allowed residency - and a distinguished Army career is not always sufficient. This was demonstrated when Tul Bahadur Pun, 84, a Victoria Cross winner from the Second World War, was initially refused residency. The decision was reversed after a public outcry.

The lead case in the latest class action is Cpl Gyanendra Rai, a Falklands hero who suffered terrible injuries at Bluff Cove. Immigration officials fear the 51-year-old will try to stay here if he is granted a visitor's visa for specialised NHS treatment. The ex-machine gunner and father of five is in constant pain after his back was hit by shrapnel. Rai, who served 14 years in the Armed Forces, required a skin graft from another soldier. He was awarded the South Atlantic Medal after being injured in June 1982. Another Gurkha in the case is L/Cpl Birendra Man Shrestha, 44, who served in the 1991 Gulf war and was decorated three times for bravery.

After the hearing in central London, which was adjourned, Mr Enright said: "I represent 44 men who between them have 700 years of Army service for this country, have won 170 medals and have fought in four wars. "They are being told that you don't belong here. It is ludicrous. We hope that the Government will allow our war heroes home to where they belong." Gurkhas undergo one of the most rigorous selection processes in any modern army. Not only do recruits need good academic qualifications but they must complete the doko, which requires them to run five kilometres up the foothills of the Himalayas while carrying 35kg of rocks on their back. Only those fit enough to do so are deemed eligible for the Army.
The Ministry of Defence hires about 230 Nepalese soldiers a year to serve as Gurkhas and at present there are about 3,500 serving with the Army, some of whom are on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the two world wars, the Gurkhas suffered 43,000 casualties and won 26 Victoria Crosses, more than any other regiment. Even if they win residency in this country, older Gurkha veterans will find it difficult to live here. They are only paid a quarter of the normal Army pension, around £1,584 a year.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/02/ngurkas102.xmld