http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2640423.ece

Hazel Blears, fighting to become deputy leader of the Labour Party,
was last night at the centre of controversy after she appeared to
suggest that immigrants were engaged in anti-social behaviour and
street drinking.

Ms Blears also said people in her Salford constituency were concerned
that immigrants were undercutting their wages and that they were less
willing to pay tax. The Labour Party chairman told The Independent on
Sunday she was "very worried" that the far right was capitalising on
fears about immigration because mainstream politicians were failing to
address people's concerns. About 40 per cent of the public thought
immigration a significant issue compared with 10 per cent a decade
ago, she said.

"There has been a dramatic change in communities. We have got people
living in Salford now from every country under the sun. We used to be
93 per cent white working class. Our community's changing before our
eyes. People can see it and when they see it they get worried - if it
is not being managed properly."

British people did not object to immigrants, but they wanted
"fairness" in the way that they behave. "If it is perceived not to be
fair, then you do get tension," Ms Blears said. "I think everyone is
working harder now probably than they have ever worked before and they
feel that everyone who can work should. They don't like people to
avoid paying taxes: if they have got to do it, everyone else should.

"We have got areas in Salford where private landlords are letting
properties with 10 and 12 people in there. Now the community doesn't
object to the people, they object to the exploitation and the fact
that that leads to people being on the street drinking, anti-social
behaviour. They don't object to the people being there, but they
object if they are undercutting wages and not getting the national
minimum wage and they are not abiding by health and safety, so you
have got to enforce the law."

The controversy echoes the row surrounding Margaret Hodge, the
industry minister, who suggested British indigenous families must be
given preferential access to social housing. Ms Blears, who said she
disagreed with Ms Hodge, called on people from different ethnic
backgrounds to mix through sports clubs and in schools, and said there
were "dangers" for society in segregated areas.

She said: "You can't tell people where to live. You can't say this
street is reserved for eight black families and eight white families.
But you can provide a range of housing that people want to live in.
You can make it attractive, secure and safe. Sometimes people cleave
together because they don't think it's safe. Now if you have a proper
police service, people will feel comfortable living in other areas."

Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote, accused Ms Blears of
pandering to far-right rhetoric. "There is absolutely no evidence
migrant workers are drinking on the street and most people would
accept migrant workers are doing a good job for a fair price."

Norman Lamb, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "To paint this sort of
picture plays to dangerous and wholly wrong stereotypes."

Immigrants contribute around £2.5bn more in tax than they receive in
benefits or state services, according to the Home Office.

On 11 Jun, 04:05, Steve Greene <stephen_gre...@hotmail.com.invalid>
wrote:
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2640423.ece
>
> Hazel Blears, fighting to become deputy leader of the Labour Party,
> was last night at the centre of controversy after she appeared to
> suggest that immigrants were engaged in anti-social behaviour and
> street drinking.
>
> Ms Blears also said people in her Salford constituency were concerned
> that immigrants were undercutting their wages and that they were less
> willing to pay tax. The Labour Party chairman told The Independent on
> Sunday she was "very worried" that the far right was capitalising on
> fears about immigration because mainstream politicians were failing to
> address people's concerns. About 40 per cent of the public thought
> immigration a significant issue compared with 10 per cent a decade
> ago, she said.
>
> "There has been a dramatic change in communities. We have got people
> living in Salford now from every country under the sun. We used to be
> 93 per cent white working class. Our community's changing before our
> eyes. People can see it and when they see it they get worried - if it
> is not being managed properly."
>
> British people did not object to immigrants, but they wanted
> "fairness" in the way that they behave. "If it is perceived not to be
> fair, then you do get tension," Ms Blears said. "I think everyone is
> working harder now probably than they have ever worked before and they
> feel that everyone who can work should. They don't like people to
> avoid paying taxes: if they have got to do it, everyone else should.
>
> "We have got areas in Salford where private landlords are letting
> properties with 10 and 12 people in there. Now the community doesn't
> object to the people, they object to the exploitation and the fact
> that that leads to people being on the street drinking, anti-social
> behaviour. They don't object to the people being there, but they
> object if they are undercutting wages and not getting the national
> minimum wage and they are not abiding by health and safety, so you
> have got to enforce the law."
>
> The controversy echoes the row surrounding Margaret Hodge, the
> industry minister, who suggested British indigenous families must be
> given preferential access to social housing. Ms Blears, who said she
> disagreed with Ms Hodge, called on people from different ethnic
> backgrounds to mix through sports clubs and in schools, and said there
> were "dangers" for society in segregated areas.
>
> She said: "You can't tell people where to live. You can't say this
> street is reserved for eight black families and eight white families.
> But you can provide a range of housing that people want to live in.
> You can make it attractive, secure and safe. Sometimes people cleave
> together because they don't think it's safe. Now if you have a proper
> police service, people will feel comfortable living in other areas."
>
> Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote, accused Ms Blears of
> pandering to far-right rhetoric. "There is absolutely no evidence
> migrant workers are drinking on the street and most people would
> accept migrant workers are doing a good job for a fair price."
>
> Norman Lamb, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "To paint this sort of
> picture plays to dangerous and wholly wrong stereotypes."
>
> Immigrants contribute around £2.5bn more in tax than they receive in
> benefits or state services, according to the Home Office.>

Ah the famous �2.5bn. A few pence a week for each Briton for a few
years until schools and other benefits far outweigh the minimal
amounts of tax low-paid immigrants contribute.

But does Blears rigged little storm mean an election is in the offing?

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:19:37 -0700, MikeinCamden wrote:

> On 11 Jun, 04:05, Steve Greene <stephen_gre...@hotmail.com.invalid>
> wrote:
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2640423.ece
>>
>> Hazel Blears, fighting to become deputy leader of the Labour Party,
>> was last night at the centre of controversy after she appeared to
>> suggest that immigrants were engaged in anti-social behaviour and
>> street drinking.
>>
>> Ms Blears also said people in her Salford constituency were concerned
>> that immigrants were undercutting their wages and that they were less
>> willing to pay tax. The Labour Party chairman told The Independent on
>> Sunday she was "very worried" that the far right was capitalising on
>> fears about immigration because mainstream politicians were failing to
>> address people's concerns. About 40 per cent of the public thought
>> immigration a significant issue compared with 10 per cent a decade
>> ago, she said.
>>
>> "There has been a dramatic change in communities. We have got people
>> living in Salford now from every country under the sun. We used to be
>> 93 per cent white working class. Our community's changing before our
>> eyes. People can see it and when they see it they get worried - if it
>> is not being managed properly."
>>
>> British people did not object to immigrants, but they wanted
>> "fairness" in the way that they behave. "If it is perceived not to be
>> fair, then you do get tension," Ms Blears said. "I think everyone is
>> working harder now probably than they have ever worked before and they
>> feel that everyone who can work should. They don't like people to
>> avoid paying taxes: if they have got to do it, everyone else should.
>>
>> "We have got areas in Salford where private landlords are letting
>> properties with 10 and 12 people in there. Now the community doesn't
>> object to the people, they object to the exploitation and the fact
>> that that leads to people being on the street drinking, anti-social
>> behaviour. They don't object to the people being there, but they
>> object if they are undercutting wages and not getting the national
>> minimum wage and they are not abiding by health and safety, so you
>> have got to enforce the law."
>>
>> The controversy echoes the row surrounding Margaret Hodge, the
>> industry minister, who suggested British indigenous families must be
>> given preferential access to social housing. Ms Blears, who said she
>> disagreed with Ms Hodge, called on people from different ethnic
>> backgrounds to mix through sports clubs and in schools, and said there
>> were "dangers" for society in segregated areas.
>>
>> She said: "You can't tell people where to live. You can't say this
>> street is reserved for eight black families and eight white families.
>> But you can provide a range of housing that people want to live in.
>> You can make it attractive, secure and safe. Sometimes people cleave
>> together because they don't think it's safe. Now if you have a proper
>> police service, people will feel comfortable living in other areas."
>>
>> Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote, accused Ms Blears of
>> pandering to far-right rhetoric. "There is absolutely no evidence
>> migrant workers are drinking on the street and most people would
>> accept migrant workers are doing a good job for a fair price."
>>
>> Norman Lamb, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "To paint this sort of
>> picture plays to dangerous and wholly wrong stereotypes."
>>
>> Immigrants contribute around £2.5bn more in tax than they receive in
>> benefits or state services, according to the Home Office.>
> 
> Ah the famous �2.5bn. A few pence a week for each Briton for a few
> years until schools and other benefits far outweigh the minimal
> amounts of tax low-paid immigrants contribute.
> 
> But does Blears rigged little storm mean an election is in the offing?

its probably a falsely concocted figure in the first place....