Tories under fire over immigration

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 8

Tories under fire over immigration

NZPA-Reuter London The British Opposition .Conservative Party has come under fierce attack from coloured ders, the ruling Labour Party, and even one of their own Parliamentarians over controversial new proposals to ■s’ sh immigration. Tt announcement on Saturday by the’ party’s deputy leader, Mr William White- ‘ law, that a future Conservative government would clamp down on the influx of people — especially from i the Indian sub-continent — ! sparked a predictable storm of protest. One Pakistani immigrant leader, Mr Praful Patel, said he though the coloured community would have no hesi-* i tation in taking up what he ! described as "this racist and i sexist policy” with the Eurojpean Court of Human Rights, j Mr Vishnu Sharma, president of a 10,000-strong Injdian Workers’ Association in I London, said: "The Tories < i are adding to the fuelling of 'racial hatred.” I And the Government said’i ! the Conservatives were "at- j ! tempting to stir up and ex-!: Iploit the fears of someji I people in Britain ...”

A Conservative M.P., Mr Terence Higgins, spoke out) against his own party’s 001-; icy. He said: “The most 11 objectionable features of the; package will actually delay.! not accelerate, an end to ::>t-l migration. This is absurd.” I ■ In essence the Con-i iservatives have pledged to! (introduce an over-all quota,i ! system limiting immigration u

and a ban on many hus. bands and fiances of Com< monwealth women entering Britain. They also plan a register of dependants in the Indian sub-continent who wish to join heads of households in Britain, and strictei criteria for their entry. Immigration has become a hot political issue against a background of high unemployment and. according to public opinion polls, widespread public concern at the continuing influx of settlers Last week the Government said it intended to make nn radical changes to immigration regulations, despite the report of an all-party committee on immigration which recommended tighter curbs. The Government produced figures which it said showed coloured immigration was on the decline anyway. The parties’ rival policies Will face a crucial test in an April 20 by-election in the ■ London suburb of Brixton, which has a large black population. The increasingly heated debate promises to be one o| the most important issues at the next General Election, which must take place within 18 months and is widely expected this (northern! autumn.