June 2007

Over the past few weeks I’ve been serving on the UK Borders Bill committee in Parliament. The Bill seeks to address concerns over illegal immigration and cross border crime. Central to the debate is the introduction of biometric ID cards for foreign nationals so that we know who is here and who has the right to be here.

There are concerns about immigration and a fear that too many people are being allowed into this country. Let’s be clear. Britain has a proud tradition of helping people who are driven from their homeland and this must continue. Also, foreign workers play an important part in our economy and it’s not too long ago that the NHS needed to recruit doctors and nurses from abroad. But as more people are trained here we need less people from elsewhere.

Some say it’s racist to talk about immigration. I think that’s wrong. Immigration affects us all including British people of all backgrounds and ethic origin. I believe it’s about the interests of everyone who has a legal right to be here and who pay for services through taxation. That’s why we need to consider the effect on communities and how we plan for the schools, hospitals and houses we need for the future.

ID cards will be important in the fight against cross border crime like people trafficking.  They will also be useful to help control access to work and benefits once in Britain.

I’ve been seeking the views of my constituents to make a strong case to the Home Secretary. Most show strong support for biometric ID cards for foreign nationals, agree that some immigration is good for our economy but for the sake of everyone, want to crackdown on illegal working.  All the stranger then that some parties oppose the Bill.