MohammedAmin.com
Serious writing for
serious readers

Search this site

Custom Search

Transmitted 26 March 2013. Posted 27 April 2013. Updated 29 May 2022

Immigration is a subject that is at the forefront of political debate in Britain, with coverage in the media every day. Accordingly it is easy to believe that there is a consensus in the UK that immigration is a problem.

On 26 March 2013 the the Islam Channel's "Politics and Media Show" discussed the question"Is there now a consensus that immigration is a problem?"

The presenter was John Rees and the participants were:

• Myriam Cherti, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research
• Awale Olad, Public Affairs Officer, the Migrants' Rights Network
• Myself, appearing by telephone as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum

The line-up is similar to that for the discussion about immigration from Romania and Bulgaria that took place on 21 January. Some of the questions raised in the current discussion were:

• Is discussion of immigration really "Dog whistle politics"? (A way of raising race issues without seeming to do so.)
• Is there a difference between political "tough talk" and actual immigration policy?
• What kind of people do we want to allow into the country?
• Is the immigration debate irrational?
• Does immigration cause unemployment?
• Is the rise of UKIP (the UK Independence Party) due to issues other than immigration?
• What is the relationship between immigration and integration?

I made the point quite forcefully that immigration is no longer a racial issue. Levels of immigration are raised as a concern by many people who are not "White British."

You can watch the 24 minute discussion below. [Unfortunately, since this page was created, the video has changed status and can no longer be watched. I have left the page up in case it becomes available again in future.]