Tony Blair: I don't regret opening UK borders to European immigrants

Tony Blair has said that he does not regret the decision to lift border controls for eastern European immigrants after Ed Miliband expressed his concern over the policy.

The former Prime Minister said that Polish immigrants did “good work in our country” and that “most reasonable people” appreciated the contribution they made to Britain.

Mr Blair spoke out after Mr Miliband described the relaxation of immigration controls in 2004 as a “mistake” which undermined living standards for some working-class households.

Over the past decade, more than 700,000 eastern Europeans have moved to Britain for work – far more than the 15,000 who were officially predicted to arrive in this country each year.

The former Prime Minister said illegal immigration should be the target of action rather than a change in policy.
Asked whether he had made a mistake in relaxing controls for eastern

Europeans, he said: “In some ways, I don’t regret it actually because I think the Polish community and other communities from eastern europe actually do good work in our country. I mean, I’m happy with them. [But] I understand there’s a very marked sensitivity around that.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9352335/Tony-Blair-I-dont-regret-opening-UK-borders-to-European-immigrants.html

Modern Britain is a disaster. Australia should in no way emulate policies of Britain, particularly its disastrous immigration system.

Considering Mr Abbott has pulled out of politics, and is now stationed in the wilderness, it is not up to his supporters to decide Australia's immigration. This is now between the Greens, Independents, Labor and moderate Liberals.

Compassion, Progressive Policies and Immigration has made Australia great and so we will not be changing a successful mix.

Don't bother giving the people a vote will you.  The Australian Government is the most evil corrupt dictatorship in the world. :P

Awesome wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 12:07am:

Modern Britain is a disaster. Australia should in no way emulate policies of Britain, particularly its disastrous immigration system.

Yep, and France is even worse.

Where does it state Australia is considering opening its borders to mass migration as seen in Britain.....Why are the Greens so insecure they need to resort to this sort of scare mongering to try and secure their supporter base???

>:( >:( >:(

philperth2010 wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 8:00am:

Where does it state Australia is considering opening its borders to mass migration as seen in Britain.....Why are the Greens so insecure they need to resort to this sort of scare mongering to try and secure their supporter base??? >:( >:( >:(

Abbott has removed himself and his supporters from the debate ... so now it is for Greens, Independents, Moderate Liberals and Labor to find a new course.

Since Australia flourished with open boarder policies concerning British and then other groups like Vietnamese, this path does work.

Perhaps the one in four migrant should start speaking out about their own experience so the wider community can remember our past. Our past is a key to our future.

Migrants should join our voice against this evil, corrupt Government of undemocratic thugs.  I can only warn migrants - take it from me, a migrant from another era the Australian Government is evil, do not trust them, they are much more evil and corrupt than the place you came from.  Join us in resisting the corrupt lying Government dictators, together we can stop these gangsters.... 8-)

Awesome wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 12:07am:

Modern Britain is a disaster. Australia should in no way emulate policies of Britain, particularly its disastrous immigration system.

Yeah cause Australia is doing great??

____ wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 12:01am:

Tony Blair: I don't regret opening UK borders to European immigrants

England is part of Europe? And Europe is smaller than Australia

So opening it's borders' like people moving from Melbourne to Tasmania

Even UK doesnt take as many asylum seekers as the yanks

SOB

---

Trouble is Australia is not a safe, fit and proper place to seek asylum in or migrate to and we all have to warn the world how corrupt, dangerous and evil our Government is. 8-)

Prevailing wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 11:13am:

Trouble is Australia is not a safe, fit and proper place to seek asylum in or migrate to and we all have to warn the world how corrupt, dangerous and evil our Government is. 8-)

feel free to leave if its so dangerous and corrupt .... talk is cheap

____ wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 12:01am:

Tony Blair: I don't regret opening UK borders to European immigrants Tony Blair has said that he does not regret the decision to lift border controls for eastern European immigrants after Ed Miliband expressed his concern over the policy. The former Prime Minister said that Polish immigrants did “good work in our country” and that “most reasonable people” appreciated the contribution they made to Britain. Mr Blair spoke out after Mr Miliband described the relaxation of immigration controls in 2004 as a “mistake” which undermined living standards for some working-class households. Over the past decade, more than 700,000 eastern Europeans have moved to Britain for work – far more than the 15,000 who were officially predicted to arrive in this country each year. The former Prime Minister said illegal immigration should be the target of action rather than a change in policy. Asked whether he had made a mistake in relaxing controls for eastern Europeans, he said: “In some ways, I don’t regret it actually because I think the Polish community and other communities from eastern europe actually do good work in our country. I mean, I’m happy with them. [But] I understand there’s a very marked sensitivity around that. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9352335/Tony-Blair-I-dont-regret-opening-UK-borders-to-European-immigrants.html

yep