I don't really blame UKIP for focusing on the issue of immigration, particularly in the build-up to the European elections in May. The lack of control over our own borders - one of the fist duties of any sovereign government - is lamentable and is due purely to our membership of the EU and its 'free movement' doctrine. They did make me wince a little though.
It is also an issue which gains profile as one side calls it 'racist' and the other laments the added pressure that immigrants put on our health, welfare and housing infrastructure as well as the job market where downward pressure on wages has been profound. And in gaining profile it stays in the news and has allowed UKIP to maintain a high profile which it has made good use of to attack the status quo and deliver its other messages.
And those who attack this so-called racist policy (it isn't at all) have largely been confined to talking about this single issue rather than combating the many other policies and ideas that this argument has allowed UKIP to bring forward. I don't think it's genius, it's accidental, but it has been almost entirely positive for UKIP in the grand scheme of things.
They (UKIP) have been seen to be becoming much more professional and having views on a variety of issues which resonate amongst British voters, whilst their opponents have been reduced to name-calling. I must say that reducing this name-calling to almost irrelevance has been a welcome development - the left in particular has relied upon stifling any kind of argument in recent years by playing the 'racist' or 'bigot' card - a tactic which has now been almost completely undermined. That's a good thing.
Actually encouraging people to come into the UK for party political reasons as was done by Labour in the last parliament - which they have since admitted and apologised for - is an entirely bad thing to do. As is the restriction of immigration purely to people from the Europe, which the EU does. Now that is clearly racist.
However immigration is not even close to being to most important element of the argument on our membership of the EU. It is largely a side-show: Immigration is generally a good thing for the UK economy, but unrestricted immigration is not. I think that's clear now to most people and it is also clear that UKIP has won that particular argument if one actually listens to what they are saying - which is advocating a points system for incomers akin to that employed in Australia and the USA. And not restricting immigration to 'Europeans, bet extending the opportunity to people from all over the world.
The danger for UKIP - and it is a danger which I think they are largely avoiding at the moment - is sticking to the immigration theme. It seems to me that they've won the argument - that won't be a popular thing for me to say, but I think it's true. While the other parties are fumbling around trying to 'catch up' with the populace on the issue: Dave trying to have some kind of handbrake in contravention of EU law; Labour laughably claiming that the real victims are the immigrants themselves and Nick Clegg, erm, well who knows or cares(?), UKIP is moving on.
As will I, and take UKIP out of this equation, since I share their anti-EU stance, but on my own account not necessarily as a 'kipper'.
I have blogged, some might say 'endlessly' about our membership of the EU and why it is a bad thing, and I have rarely mentioned immigration as an issue.
Why? Because it's a symptom, not the disease. Just as massive levels of youth unemployment in southern Europe is a symptom. Just as massive levels of waste and corruption both within the EU and in the 'projects' it funds around the continent are symptoms. Just as the continuing rape of Africa so that it cannot trade its way into the first world, because of protectionist EU tariffs are a symptom.
Just as Brussels taking over control of our lives, laws, culture, values, views and ability to have some local control and influence (such as it is) over how we're governed, is a symptom.
The EU is the biggest threat to our democracy - you know, the freedoms that our forefathers fought and died for quite recently - that exists for citizens not just of the UK but the whole of Europe. It is at the forefront of the politically correct world we now live in that has given us Rotherham and the 30 or so other towns and cities in the UK where the exact same crimes are happening. Not sure about that? It's happening in France, Germany and Sweden too, and probably everywhere else in Europe as well.
It's at the forefront of our crazy climate change laws and commitments that are costing us £billions to solve a problem that doesn't exist. It is trying to make the whole of Europe a single state. And that state will be much more akin to Germany than it will to Spain, Italy, Greece or good old Blighty. I love Spain, Italy, Greece, Blighty - and Germany - but as different, independent places with their own offer, history, food, music, culture, values etc.
These are not going to be left alone to thrive and to make Europe the amazingly diverse and culturally interesting place it is, under the increasingly controlling yoke of the EU.
It's time we tackled the disease and pulled the rug out from under these unqualified and unelected Muppets in Brussels and got on with living our own lives without 'superior' beings telling us what to do.
We should rename the EU as 'EUBOLA' and get on with eradicating both.
Thanks for reading.
Fair points, and I like the lack of undue bias. Keep it up.
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