I'm sure others will blog on this issue also, but I was bemused to learn of John Reid's new way of encouraging immigrants not to overstay their visa- by texting them. Surely if the Government had these thousands of mobile numbers, they would be tracking down more illegal immigrants than they are currently? And surely, if you do receive a text from the Home Office, and you don't wish to leave Britain, you would merely delete it, and forget about the text?
This all seems a bit desperate on John Reid's behalf. This is not the time to practise youth culture or new ways of communication.
Reid's comments to the BBC will only serve to feed in to the hands of the tabloid papers, and BNP propoganda of the stereotypical perception of illegal immigrants- that "It is unfair that foreigners come to this country illegitimately and steal our benefits, steal our services like the NHS and undermine the minimum wage by working. '
I agree with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants chief executive Habib Rahman, when in reaction to Reid's comments said:
"We want a more balanced approach, not just hyping up public emotions on some very emotive subjects."
This all seems a bit desperate on John Reid's behalf. This is not the time to practise youth culture or new ways of communication.
Reid's comments to the BBC will only serve to feed in to the hands of the tabloid papers, and BNP propoganda of the stereotypical perception of illegal immigrants- that "It is unfair that foreigners come to this country illegitimately and steal our benefits, steal our services like the NHS and undermine the minimum wage by working. '
I agree with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants chief executive Habib Rahman, when in reaction to Reid's comments said:
"We want a more balanced approach, not just hyping up public emotions on some very emotive subjects."
1 comment:
Tis a rather bizare idea! If immigrants are ready to break the law and stay in Britain illegally, being willing to face deportation, I hardly think a simple text is going to resolve the problems. Once again this is an example of quick fix Labour trying to tackle a complex and serious issue with a simplistic media friendly approch designed to fill collum inches instead of facing the reality of the size of the mess the Home Office has created.
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