MP warns of ‘far right’ threat over immigration debate

A Yorkshire MP has warned his fellow Conservatives they will be playing into the hands of the far right if they continue to “ratchet up” the debate about Bulgarian and Romanian immigration.

Kris Hopkins, the MP for Keighley, said using increasingly “hard-line rhetoric” on immigration from eastern Europe will be “self-defeating” for the Tories – and for mainstream politics in general.

Concerns have been raised repeatedly over recent months about the likely level of immigration to the UK from Bulgaria and Romania once the borders are opened across Europe at the end of this year.

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The Immigration Minister, Mark Harper, told MPs yesterday the Government has not made any official predictions for the likely number of arrivals next year because its chances of being accurate are “very slim”.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Hopkins, who represents one of the most diverse constituencies in Yorkshire, said local people felt “absolute despair” at the open-door policy of the previous Government, but insisted things are now “on track” under the coalition.

“There is a danger that the tone of the immigration debate, in particular on Romania and Bulgaria, will become increasingly ratcheted up in a race for crescendo, for the ideal hard-line rhetoric associated with immigration,” he said.

“That would be self-defeating and, if we are not careful, it will play to the advantage of the far right.

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“We want the right language and tone – factual arguments and a measured debate.

“People need to see that action is being delivered, that the control measures have been put in place, and that we have managed borders. I believe the Government are on the right track.”

Opinion: Page 13.