Some reader mail 'The Daily Telegraph' didn't see fit to publish
On June 14, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported that Mervyn King, the UK's central banker, had made comments the previous day which were very supportive of the economic benefits bestowed by mass immigration.
In particular, he was reported as saying,
"The Home Office estimates that around 120,000 workers entered the UK from the new member countries of the European Union between March 2004 and March this year. Without this influx to fill the skill gaps in a tight labour market, it is likely earnings would have risen at a faster rate, putting upward pressure on the costs of employers, and, ultimately inflation."
In other words, he admitted mass immigration keeps wages down.
His remarks drew favourable comment (scroll down) from Neil Collins, the 'Telegraph's' City editor, in his 'City Comment' column. In particular, Collins took it upon himself to trash the expertise and professionalism of English plumbers (colloquially called 'White Van Men') in comparison with those of their Eastern European counterparts, and concluded that,
"orderly immigration by hard working people is a big net benefit to the economy".
I wrote the following letter to the 'Telegraph' - they have not published (Note - 'Watchdog'is the title of a long-running BBC consumer affairs show: Nick Griffin is the leader of the white nationalist British National Party):
"Letters Editor
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
14/6/2005
Dear Sirs,
Mervyn King's comments on immigration, as reported by George Trefgarne, require some qualification ('Governor: immigrants keep down inflation', Business, Page 25, June 14).
Mr. King seems to be saying that the presence of large numbers of migrant labourers has kept down wage inflation and therefore interest rates. It's certainly to be hoped that such nil or low wage growth brought on by mass immigration is borne in mind by Gordon Brown or his successor when the public spending plans over which he has presided can no longer be sustained and taxes have to rise. It is unlikely to be those at Mr. King's pay grade who will feel the pinch hardest.
His observations were broadly endorsed by your 'City Comment' column, which assumed that the fact that 'Vlad' can always produce a lower quote for building work than 'White Van Man' is an event which happens in a vacuum. It does not. One would certainly hope that 'Vlad' is paying the same rates of tax and national insurance as WVM, and also complying with his obligations under our laws on consumer protection and trading standards. It is to be hoped that when 'Vlad' gets a visit from 'Watchdog' that he does not see fit to suspend operations and resume in his country of origin, leaving the British consumer with no realistic right of redress. One would also hope that the picture is not further distorted by the lower housing costs 'Vlad' is able to incur by leaving his dependents in their country of origin and thus not having to pay British prices.
The right to regulate immigration is one of the most profound rights of any sovereign people. It is a right which has been consistently denied to the British, most recently by the enactment of the Nice Treaty into law without a referendum. In a country whose leaders, not its people, determine that its borders shall be open, having an Immigration Service is useful for no purpose other than providing an object lesson in bureaucratic waste.
However, one can be sure that while he was making his comments, Mr. King did not realise he might be giving political succour to the most unexpected quarters. As a confirmed opponent of the British National Party, I'm sure that the Governor of the Bank of England encouraging immigration for the role it plays in keeping down wages will have had Nick Griffin rubbing his hands with glee.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Kelly"
In particular, he was reported as saying,
"The Home Office estimates that around 120,000 workers entered the UK from the new member countries of the European Union between March 2004 and March this year. Without this influx to fill the skill gaps in a tight labour market, it is likely earnings would have risen at a faster rate, putting upward pressure on the costs of employers, and, ultimately inflation."
In other words, he admitted mass immigration keeps wages down.
His remarks drew favourable comment (scroll down) from Neil Collins, the 'Telegraph's' City editor, in his 'City Comment' column. In particular, Collins took it upon himself to trash the expertise and professionalism of English plumbers (colloquially called 'White Van Men') in comparison with those of their Eastern European counterparts, and concluded that,
"orderly immigration by hard working people is a big net benefit to the economy".
I wrote the following letter to the 'Telegraph' - they have not published (Note - 'Watchdog'is the title of a long-running BBC consumer affairs show: Nick Griffin is the leader of the white nationalist British National Party):
"Letters Editor
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
14/6/2005
Dear Sirs,
Mervyn King's comments on immigration, as reported by George Trefgarne, require some qualification ('Governor: immigrants keep down inflation', Business, Page 25, June 14).
Mr. King seems to be saying that the presence of large numbers of migrant labourers has kept down wage inflation and therefore interest rates. It's certainly to be hoped that such nil or low wage growth brought on by mass immigration is borne in mind by Gordon Brown or his successor when the public spending plans over which he has presided can no longer be sustained and taxes have to rise. It is unlikely to be those at Mr. King's pay grade who will feel the pinch hardest.
His observations were broadly endorsed by your 'City Comment' column, which assumed that the fact that 'Vlad' can always produce a lower quote for building work than 'White Van Man' is an event which happens in a vacuum. It does not. One would certainly hope that 'Vlad' is paying the same rates of tax and national insurance as WVM, and also complying with his obligations under our laws on consumer protection and trading standards. It is to be hoped that when 'Vlad' gets a visit from 'Watchdog' that he does not see fit to suspend operations and resume in his country of origin, leaving the British consumer with no realistic right of redress. One would also hope that the picture is not further distorted by the lower housing costs 'Vlad' is able to incur by leaving his dependents in their country of origin and thus not having to pay British prices.
The right to regulate immigration is one of the most profound rights of any sovereign people. It is a right which has been consistently denied to the British, most recently by the enactment of the Nice Treaty into law without a referendum. In a country whose leaders, not its people, determine that its borders shall be open, having an Immigration Service is useful for no purpose other than providing an object lesson in bureaucratic waste.
However, one can be sure that while he was making his comments, Mr. King did not realise he might be giving political succour to the most unexpected quarters. As a confirmed opponent of the British National Party, I'm sure that the Governor of the Bank of England encouraging immigration for the role it plays in keeping down wages will have had Nick Griffin rubbing his hands with glee.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Kelly"
posted by Martin at 9:02 PM
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