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Blunkett says last minute immigration plans are normal.
David Blunket, the UK home secretary yesterday justified his governments decision to rush through legislation preventing members from the Eastern European countries due to join the EC for working in the UK.
When it was decided that the 13 new countries including Bulgaria, Slovakia and Estonia would join the EC two years ago it could not have been forseen that the move would present a risk of mass immigration to richer countries such as France, Sweden and France Mr Blunket said.
“The truth of the matter is that when we decided to let them join we didn’t even really know where Slovakia and Estonia were. We certainly weren’t aware that their average wage was 2000 EEK a month, and we had no idea whatsoever that this was equivalent to 130 Euros a month. Thus it is quite clear that none of us had any idea that everyone in Estonia, and most of the other countries joining, would move to London on the 1st of June.”
“It’s very unfair to say we’ve acted late. Someone explained the whole wage thing to me last Tuesday and I introduced the new immigration controls on Wednesday. I’d call that pretty efficient.”
Mr Blunket simultaneously announced an amnesty for illegal immigrants from the 13 new countries currently working in the UK, who will now be able to remain in the UK and work legally.
“What we’re sayng is that everyone who got here before it was legal, ie before their country joined the EU can stay. Anyone arriving after it becomes legal on the 1st of June will be sent packing.”
The move was commended by the extreme right British National Party as a “Clear example of common sense politics.”
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