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Migrants cap debate 'dangerous' Migrants cap debate 'dangerous'
(20 minutes later)
Talking about a potential cap on immigration to the UK is "pointless" and could be dangerous, equalities chief Trevor Phillips has told the BBC.Talking about a potential cap on immigration to the UK is "pointless" and could be dangerous, equalities chief Trevor Phillips has told the BBC.
He said that as unemployment rises it was important to avoid "stoking anti-immigrant hysteria".He said that as unemployment rises it was important to avoid "stoking anti-immigrant hysteria".
The real point was not why immigrants were getting jobs but why many Britons were not competing for jobs, he said.The real point was not why immigrants were getting jobs but why many Britons were not competing for jobs, he said.
Immigration Phil Woolas pledged last week that the population would not rise above 70 million in Britain.Immigration Phil Woolas pledged last week that the population would not rise above 70 million in Britain.
He later told the BBC he was not talking about a "numerical cap" but had been addressing a concern raised by some population predictions and insisted the "general trend" in population could be controlled.He later told the BBC he was not talking about a "numerical cap" but had been addressing a concern raised by some population predictions and insisted the "general trend" in population could be controlled.
'Dangerous''Dangerous'
Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Mr Phillips told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that talk of a "numbers game" was "holding out a promise that can't be delivered for a problem that does not exist".Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Mr Phillips told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that talk of a "numbers game" was "holding out a promise that can't be delivered for a problem that does not exist".
He said the British population would not hit 70 million but could not be capped anyway because EU citizens have the right to settle in the UK and millions of Britons abroad could return at any time.He said the British population would not hit 70 million but could not be capped anyway because EU citizens have the right to settle in the UK and millions of Britons abroad could return at any time.
I think what we need to do is think much harder about how we kick-start social mobility particularly of many young white people in this country Trevor Phillips FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
He said talking of a cap was talking about "the wrong thing" adding: "I think that engaging in a debate which is about the wrong thing could be dangerous."He said talking of a cap was talking about "the wrong thing" adding: "I think that engaging in a debate which is about the wrong thing could be dangerous."
Instead Britain needed to focus on extra resources for public services, tackling the perception that immigrants were "cheating" in areas like social housing, and the worries of those losing their jobs which could lead to resentment.Instead Britain needed to focus on extra resources for public services, tackling the perception that immigrants were "cheating" in areas like social housing, and the worries of those losing their jobs which could lead to resentment.
Mr Phillips, who is sharing a platform with Mr Woolas at a CBI immigration conference, said it was not just the immigration minister who had talked about the 70 million figure.Mr Phillips, who is sharing a platform with Mr Woolas at a CBI immigration conference, said it was not just the immigration minister who had talked about the 70 million figure.
'Positive action''Positive action'
But he said he would advise him: "The real point we need to focus on, if I can be absolutely blunt, is not so much why immigrants are getting jobs, it is why our people are not competing for jobs.But he said he would advise him: "The real point we need to focus on, if I can be absolutely blunt, is not so much why immigrants are getting jobs, it is why our people are not competing for jobs.
"I think what we need to do is think much harder about how we kick-start social mobility particularly of many young white people in this country who are not succeeding in education.""I think what we need to do is think much harder about how we kick-start social mobility particularly of many young white people in this country who are not succeeding in education."
In an interview with the Daily Mail he said poor white people who would be hit hard by the economic downturn may need special help in order to avoid boosting support for far-right groups.In an interview with the Daily Mail he said poor white people who would be hit hard by the economic downturn may need special help in order to avoid boosting support for far-right groups.
"We are going to have to put extra resources where young people can't compete with migrants's skills," he said."We are going to have to put extra resources where young people can't compete with migrants's skills," he said.
"And in some parts of the country, it is clear that what defines disadvantage won't be black or brown, it will be white. And we will have to take positive action to help some white groups, what we might call the white underclass.""And in some parts of the country, it is clear that what defines disadvantage won't be black or brown, it will be white. And we will have to take positive action to help some white groups, what we might call the white underclass."
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve is also due to address the conference later.Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve is also due to address the conference later.
He is expected to say that the most recent immigration figures suggest that more than 80% of immigrants to Britain - nearly two million people - since Labour came to power have come from outside the EU.He is expected to say that the most recent immigration figures suggest that more than 80% of immigrants to Britain - nearly two million people - since Labour came to power have come from outside the EU.
The Conservatives support an annual cap on "economic immigration" - Mr Grieve will say the government's new point-based system is pointless without an upper limit.The Conservatives support an annual cap on "economic immigration" - Mr Grieve will say the government's new point-based system is pointless without an upper limit.