A fair and open debate is needed on immigration (From Bournemouth Echo)

A fair and open debate is needed on immigration

11:10am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Opinion

THE most unforgettable episode of the 2010 general election was the moment Gordon Brown forgot to disengage himself from a microphone and shared with the rest of us, his views on Labour voter Gillian Duffy.

Mrs Duffy, you may remember, gave Mr Brown, a right going over about immigration. An angry Prime Minister then told his colleagues as they drove away that she was a bigot.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax reminded the House of Commons of this incident during a debate on UK immigration.

Mr Drax has allied himself with calls for the population of the country to be stabilised as close as possible to its present level.

It’s one of the thorniest and most sensitive issues but one about which many feel strongly - witness the 140,000 strong petition that sparked the motion in the House. Mr Drax is right. A reasoned, fair and open debate is needed.