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There have been concerns about increasing levels of Xenophobia and racism during and after the recent EU Referendum. It is interesting to note that during an interview with local UK newspaper, The Harrow Times, during the EU Referendum campaign Priti Patel MP, said that the UK must exit the European Union to pursue a UK immigration policy that does not discriminate against people. According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics, 4,526 immigrants moved to Harrow between 2013 and 2014.
Ahead of the Brexit referendum on Thursday, 23 June, Patel,who along with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Gisela Stuart, is a leading figure in the former Brexit campaign, addressed the issue of UK immigration head-on, talking about "Britain taking control of its own future" and the "economic effect of Brexit."
Patel, Britain's Minister of State for Employment and the daughter of Ugandan Asian refugees, said: "On June 23 we have an unprecedented opportunity to take back control of our country. We can take back control of our borders and have a UK immigration policy that does not discriminate against people."
She said that a new immigration policy would bring about a different type of migration to the type that Britain is currently witnessing, which sees people entering the UK from countries with "poorer economic prospects".
According to Patel, the Eurozone crisis in Europe has resulted in more people coming to Britain. She says that increased immigration has put a strain on the nation's public services and the government's ability to provide services
Sanwar Ali, Editor of workpermit.com has the following comments to make:
During the EU Referendum both sides made a number of exaggerated claims about what would happen if the UK either left the EU or remained in the EU. . The "Leave" campaign said that Brexit would mean substantial reductions in immigration. The "Remain" campaign said that there would be serious economic consequences if Britain left the EU. Now some people say that there will be a sudden rush of new EU immigrants before the UK eventually leaves the UK. This could take some years.
Priti Patel says that she wants to exclude immigrants from Countries with "poorer economic prospects". It is interesting to note that Priti Patel's parents were refugees from Uganda. In 1972 the tyrant Idi Amin expelled all Asians from Uganda. Edward Heath's Conservative Government at the time allowed Ugandan Asians to settle in the UK. Typically the Ugandan Asians that arrived in the UK had very little money.
The economics of Brexit according to Priti Patel MP
Between 2016 and 2020, Patel claims that the EU will receive £9.7 billion from Britain every year, a figure that represents more than some UK government department budgets. She said: "We have been clear when it comes to the economics and we can take control of billions we are forced to hand over to the EU. The EU demands £350 million a week from us."
Patel says that these large amounts of money could be made available to the NHS and other areas that Britain considers to be a priority. Patel says that the £9.7 billion that Britain contributes to the EU each year is more than the budget of either the Ministry of Justice or the Home Office.
The Minister of State for Employment claims that splitting from the EU would mean that instead Britain would trade more with Commonwealth nations and with growing economies such as China.
The Conservative MP also rubbished comments made by US President, Barack Obama, who said that Britain would be at the 'back of any queue for trade deals.' Patel said: "There is no queue. We will be able to trade with countries like America."
Patel went on to say that leaving the EU won't affect Britain's ability to do business in Europe. According to the senior Brexit campaigner, 36 countries outside of the EU exported more into Europe than the UK.
The UK public voted to leave the EU on Thursday, 23 June 2016.
