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Originally Posted by Bazf
Two themes stand out, Slag Blair at All Times & Imigration, Immigration, Immigration.
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TONY Blair will steal the Tory clothes on immigration today — by claiming “it is not racist” to talk about asylum. The PM will promise a 12.5 per cent rise in immigration officers within four months of a Labour election victory.
And he will pledge to boost undercover officers at foreign airports to weed out cheats attempting to board planes to Britain.
The £20million move will be unveiled in a speech as Mr Blair tries to outgun the Tories on the issue.
Stealing from Tory leader Michael Howard, the Premier will say: “It’s not racist to talk about asylum and immigration. These are genuine concerns to people.
“The question is whether you have policies to deal with concerns. It’s not racist to want your government to do something about asylum and immigration — and we are.”
It will be the first time Mr Blair has entered the row over illegal immigration since the election war began.
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Get in touch with Tony he's not telling you everything
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I have to say I sense something ill about this whole agenda. Howard was well within his rights to discuss the issues and say what he said. And by defination Blair was too though you wonder how much the Suns support 'One Last Chance' and Tony's 'we're listening' played a part.
Howards critics and the upset he has caused is not the words but teh context and I share that independent view. Going to Burnley to launch the immigration debate was 'a message to far'. If it was just the words he could have done it elsewhere and within a positive framework of criticism.
His presentation hasn't changed and by talking about this issue more than anything else he is sending out a message that it is a more important issue than anything else. And clearly any right minded person would see it isn't. Coupled with a dogmatic, blame stance, a plethora of candidates expressing a watered down version of 'hate language' you have to wonder where Mr Howard is coming from on this issue and in general.