The news that net migration into the United Kingdom rose by 21% in 2010 is another reminder why a 'get tough' policy on immigration is so easy in theory, and so futile in practice.
It is wonderfully ironic that the key factors leading to the increase were an increase in migrants from the A8 Group in the European Union* (up from 5,000 to 39,000) and a significant decrease in the number of people leaving this country to live and work elsewhere, exactly the factors that Governments can't actually control.
In this light, the Conservative policy of reducing net migration to tens of thousands is looking increasing like something designed to win arguments rather than actually changing anything. But then again, I said that last year... before the election. And, of course, nothing is being done to address the issue of those here illegally, except perhaps to give some of them an amnesty.
Ironic, really, given that the Liberal Democrats took so much flak for suggesting an earned route to citizenship for illegal immigrants in this country, an option which meant that those seeking to take advantage would actually have to do something in order to benefit.
Sometimes, being right isn't the same is being popular. And you know something, in this instance, I'm perfectly comfortable with that...
* the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
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