Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

BLACKPOOL

I have never enjoyed our long trek to Blackpool but this week, the old-fashioned seaside town has plumbed new depths. It appeared dirtier than ever and seems to have sprouted a new clutch of grotty night clubs and burger bars. The B&B that we have been mistakenly booked into would make Fawlty Towers look like a palace. I am not saying the ensuite bathroom is small, but I banged my elbow four times on the first morning when trying to shave.

Worst of all, our luxury guest house is cleverly located on the going home route for every single all night reveller. All night long our sleep was disturbed by rowdy drunken youngsters stumbling their way home from another night out at the local bars. They were singing and swearing. Wave after wave of them, all through the night.

At 4am in the morning my resolve to tackle Britain’s burgeoning culture of binge drinking had never been so strong. Wish you were here!

Apart from taking part in fringe meetings and listening to the welcome stream of main platform announcements, Janet and I have been spending most of our time hosting over 50 MPs from other countries, part of my duties as International Chairman of the Party. Once excited election talk is out of the way, our conversation turns to issues of mutual concern: political stability, economic growth, the war against terror and most notably migration. What are we to do about the vast wave of human migration that seems to have engulfed this modern world? People are on the move in unprecedented numbers looking for better living standards or to escape conflict or persecution.

Colleagues from European sister parties all report the same tensions in their countries. People from the developing world regret the fact that so much of their talent wants to live elsewhere rather than stay and help the long term process of transforming their country. It is, with climate change and global terror, perhaps the greatest challenge of the 21st century: how to handle mass migration.

I am clear about this. We have to be much more robust. Some migration is good for the economy but in recent years we have lost control and urgently need to get it back. Too much immigration puts at risk social cohesion and increases the risk of crime and terrorism. Our borders have become too leaky most of our European neighbours agree. It is time for tougher action.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 09, 2007