Just why has immigration become such a 'hot' topic in British politics at the moment? It first seems to have gained momentum when Gordon Brown spoke of British jobs for British workers' and of British values' at the Labour Conference in 2007. Following an unprecedented number of immigrants from the accession countries, particularly from Poland, it seems that New Labour felt that it was time to address a growing concern that a sense of British identity was being eroded by such large-scale immigration. It was of particular concern to the government because the immigrants from Eastern Europe were not just settling in conventional', cosmopolitan areas known for attracting immigrants, but also in other towns and cities which were not prepared for such a large influx of people. Hence, more pressure was, and still is, being placed on the infrastructure of such areas due to a failure on the part of the national government and of local governments to plan for the numbers of immigrants that have settled here. Obviously New Labour is concerned that this may be a turn-off when it comes to middle England' votes at the next general election.

Traditionally, British politicians have been reticent in discussing immigration for fear of the issue being portrayed as a matter of race, as it had been in the 1960's and 1970's. However, since the majority of immigrants are from Europe, are white and of Christian faith, this does not seem to be an issue. The notoriously right-wing, xenophobic British tabloids have picked up on the shortcomings of Britain's immigration policy, and the lack of planning involved in accommodating the new arrivals from eastern Europe, and so the government has been forced to act, or at least be seen to taking steps towards addressing the problems created by so many arrivals. The press has been able to play on fears of Britain's best talent emigrating to Australia, America and Europe, whilst attracting low-skilled workers from Eastern Europe, and the subsequent erosion of a British identity'.

Yet, in reality there is little the government can actually do. As a member of the European Union, individuals from member states are allowed to travel, and work, in other European countries. The government is therefore trying to placate the right-wing press by tightening up the rules governing immigration from commonwealth and other non-EU countries, which may not be a bad thing, but one has to question the government's motives. Politicians have clearly picked up on the growing resentment in some communities of the number of immigrants that have come into the country, but they cannot restrict the numbers that are coming from accession countries, and they want to be seen to do something, so they deal with people that they can put restraints on. Essentially, immigration is essential to the British economy, which the government knows, as does the general public. However, the failure to accommodate new immigrants has meant that the government is on the back foot when dealing with the immigration issue, which they should have tackled much earlier.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
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