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On immigration, David Cameron has joined Ukip’s paranoia bandwagon On immigration, David Cameron has joined Ukip’s paranoia bandwagon
(about 3 hours later)
First I was bored, now I am just bemused. We have had months of talking nonstop about how we don’t talk about immigration. Now we have entered the realm of fantasy politics with politicians vying with each other to “crack down” on immigration. These promises are detached from any reality.First I was bored, now I am just bemused. We have had months of talking nonstop about how we don’t talk about immigration. Now we have entered the realm of fantasy politics with politicians vying with each other to “crack down” on immigration. These promises are detached from any reality.
Much of this is to do with Ukip, but it also is about a central dishonesty about whose interests the Tory party actually represents: a part-time shop worker in Margate or big business which needs to be tempted to invest in that area.Much of this is to do with Ukip, but it also is about a central dishonesty about whose interests the Tory party actually represents: a part-time shop worker in Margate or big business which needs to be tempted to invest in that area.
So today we have the outgoing European commission president José Manuel Barroso basically telling David Cameron that he is talking tosh on emergency brakes and caps on immigration. The free movement of labour as well as capital, goods and services is intrinsic to the concept of the EU.So today we have the outgoing European commission president José Manuel Barroso basically telling David Cameron that he is talking tosh on emergency brakes and caps on immigration. The free movement of labour as well as capital, goods and services is intrinsic to the concept of the EU.
Capitalism in motion makes a lot of people feel very anxious, but EU withdrawal would mean a lot of big firms would pull out of the UK. Farage’s Ukip would indeed be radical if it totally revoked the logic of the market, but most of them know they will not have to enact their only real policy. Capitalism in motion makes a lot of people feel very anxious, but EU withdrawal would mean a lot of big firms would pull out of the UK. Nigel Farage’s Ukip would indeed be radical if it totally revoked the logic of the market, but most of them know they will not have to enact their only real policy.
But Cameron will, and while figures like Ken Clarke are telling him to focus on the economy, he is still trying to placate the “public concern” over immigration. You know that concern that the politically correct have banned us from talking about, but which is actually on the front pages all the time? But Cameron will, and while figures like Ken Clarke are telling him to focus on the economy, he is still trying to placate the “public concern” over immigration. You know that concern that the politically correct have banned us from talking about but which is actually on the front pages all the time?
Let’s be dead clear here: since 2004 when lots of workers from the new EU member states came in because at that point our economy was doing well, a new anti-immigrant conversation became “permissible”. As many newcomers were white, anti-immigrant views were no longer simply racist. Let’s be dead clear here: since 2004, when lots of workers from the new EU member states came in because at that point our economy was doing well, a new anti-immigrant conversation became “permissible”. As many newcomers were white, anti-immigrant views were no longer simply racist.
This does not mean they were, or are particularly rational. If they were, places with the highest immigration would be more likely to fall for Ukip and this isn’t what is happening. Clacton for instance has 4.3% of its population born abroad (the UK average is one in 8) and most of key Ukip seats have lower foreign-born populations than the national average. To spell it out, those most worried about immigration live in areas of low immigration. This does not mean they were, or are particularly rational. If they were, places with the highest immigration would be more likely to fall for Ukip, and this isn’t what is happening. Clacton, for instance, has 4.3% of its population born abroad (the UK average is one in eight) and most of key Ukip seats have lower foreign-born populations than the national average. To spell it out, those most worried about immigration live in areas of low immigration.
So what we have is a lack of reason at the bottom, replicated stupidly at the top. When immigration becomes the repository for all kinds of anxiety, the delusions multiply. Entire towns are not racist, indeed Clacton actually voted for a good constituency MP. But Clacton is depressed economically, as is Thanet, where Nigel Farage will stand. The coastal towns have long been dumping grounds for London to use up their cheap housing. I come from 80 miles away from London and it still feels far away in time and place. So what we have is a lack of reason at the bottom, replicated stupidly at the top. When immigration becomes the repository for all kinds of anxiety, the delusions multiply. Entire towns are not racist, indeed Clacton actually voted for a good constituency MP. But Clacton is depressed economically, as is Thanet, where Farage will stand. The coastal towns have long been dumping grounds for London to use up their cheap housing. I come from 80 miles away from London and it still feels far away in time and place.
What Ukip has done is turn multiple anxieties into nostalgia. It is a party that contests modernity in all its present forms: that’s why it can’t do cities, only market towns. It cannot deliver the past for it is not even truthful. The past it seeks to reinstall is imaginary, but the imagination is powerful for those who feel powerless.What Ukip has done is turn multiple anxieties into nostalgia. It is a party that contests modernity in all its present forms: that’s why it can’t do cities, only market towns. It cannot deliver the past for it is not even truthful. The past it seeks to reinstall is imaginary, but the imagination is powerful for those who feel powerless.
For David Cameron to try and appease these people by suggesting he can do 12 impossible things before lunchtime is desperate. To see Labour join in is deeply dispiriting. There have always been those queasy about immigration, wanting to blame their circumstances on these new “others” they both envy and fear. It is worth remembering, though, without denying the difficulties, that the more people have contact with each other the less hostile they become. For David Cameron to try to appease these people by suggesting he can do 12 impossible things before lunchtime is desperate. To see Labour join in is deeply dispiriting. There have always been those queasy about immigration, wanting to blame their circumstances on these new “others” they both envy and fear. It is worth remembering, though, without denying the difficulties, that the more people have contact with each other the less hostile they become.
Anxiety is allayed not by reciting facts and figures but by human connection – because anxiety is irrational. This is not to deny the unfairness that is experienced, for the modern world does not feel a kind place to many, especially the young and the poor.Anxiety is allayed not by reciting facts and figures but by human connection – because anxiety is irrational. This is not to deny the unfairness that is experienced, for the modern world does not feel a kind place to many, especially the young and the poor.
Surely though the least we can expect from politicians is not to indulge in even more paranoid, delusional thinking? Barroso merely pointed out that the idea of pulling up the drawbridge not only contravenes EU law but asked about the Brits living in EU countries – up to 2 million of them – because this stuff works both ways. He is merely joining up the dots of slapdash policy. Surely, though, the least we can expect from politicians is not to indulge in even more paranoid, delusional thinking. Barroso merely pointed out that the idea of pulling up the drawbridge not only contravenes EU law but asked about the Brits living in EU countries – up to 2 million of them – because this stuff works both ways. He is merely joining up the dots of slapdash policy.
Policy fused out of electoral fear is neither desirable nor achievable. It is dishonest. It is the government essentially trolling Ukip. All of this anxiety is a kind of motion sickness because the economy is making people move faster than they feel they can. But no party will actually address this. That’s why now we enter a world of fantasy politics which in the end just produces a different kind of nausea.Policy fused out of electoral fear is neither desirable nor achievable. It is dishonest. It is the government essentially trolling Ukip. All of this anxiety is a kind of motion sickness because the economy is making people move faster than they feel they can. But no party will actually address this. That’s why now we enter a world of fantasy politics which in the end just produces a different kind of nausea.