LibDem conference condemns Labour's immigration policy

9.19.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 21st Mar 2004

Sarah Ludford called on LibDems to continue to challenge New Labour's Daily Mail politics

Endorsing a conference motion drafted by Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and European justice spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats, delegates at the Liberal Democrats' Spring Conference have today resoundingly condemned Labour's immigration policy, and reaffirmed the party's support for EU enlargement.

Commenting following the vote Baroness Ludford said:

"The Blair government bowed to tabloid pressure over immigration following EU enlargement rather than basing policy on sound evidence. New Labour remains addicted to posturing for the press rather than legislating in the interests of the UK.

"Liberal Democrats believe in the need for well-managed immigration and endorse the treasury's own findings that immigrants to the UK make a net contribution of over £2.5bn. Furthermore the enlargement of the EU should be welcomed for the peace and prosperity it will bring, rather than feared based on the hysteria eurosceptics can whip up."

Sarah Ludford MEP drafted the motion in response to David Blunkett's statement of 23rd February on restrictions to be imposed on citizens of new EU member states. The full text as adopted follows:

F20A EU Migration

1. Conference wholeheartedly welcomes the forthcoming EU enlargement as a historic step forward in creating a united, peaceful and prosperous Europe for all.

2. Conference regrets that this positive development has been marred by existing Member State governments including the UK (noting David Blunkett's statement of 23rd February) exhibiting knee-jerk reactions to press scares without evidence and imposing prior barriers to free movement of workers within the EU and other rights against citizens of the 10 new Member States, thus inflicting on them second-class status and robbing them of one of the major EU benefits for individuals.

3. Conference condemns EU governments for allowing fear, prejudice and intolerance to flourish through their general failure to respond coherently to the challenge of immigration, asylum and integration, and calls on them urgently to deliver the common EU rules for well-managed migration, equal rights for legal immigrants, common understanding of citizenship, non-discrimination and fair refugee treatment that a large majority of EU citizens want and were promised.

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