Amber Rudd has resigned or if she was forced to do so, is not the question. Who will be the next on the crucifix? This is a serious problem for those who enter the public service with high ideals and noble intentions. Time has come to look at the root cause for this disease. The whirlwind created by the mentality behind the Windrush episode needs some serious scrutiny.
For last seven decades the echelons of powers in British politics in both Labour and Conservative governments have umpteen number of victims of this disease called 'obsession with immigration', especially the number of immigrants which can be allowed to enter the UK.
The added zest of repatriating ‘illegal’ migrants is also causing a lot of anxiety, both to the victims and the momentary victors. Why immigrants were invited to UK in the aftermath of the devastation of the World War II? Who recruited those demobbed soldiers from British Indian Army, beginning with the rubber factory in Southall, where the British natives were unwilling to work, due to the atrocious condition of the industry? Who placed adverts in the Caribbean press in mid 50s inviting gullible people from there to come and serve in ‘their country’?
The first lot happened in the Labour government of Earl Attlee and second in Churchill's cabinet, where Enoch Powell was a junior Minister, which tempted the victims of the Windrush ship, that arrived with a few hundreds. Subsequently in government of both parties, some serious games were played.
At one stage, the Commonwealth citizens were told from the roof top that your right to unhindered entry and settlement in the UK remained intact. Then by 1960/61 with about 2 percent of non white residents, vociferous cries of 'stop immigrants, start repatriation', forced Tory government to bring Commonwealt immigration Act of 1962, leading to the 1968 Enoch Powell speech, who spoke of the 'catastrophe'.
East African Asians were encouraged to opt for British citizenship, mainly because of their savings of £250mn (in those days), of foreign currency that were saved in the British banks, especially when Britain was short of it, and Chancellor went to the IMF with a cap in the hand for emergebcy funds in Dollars. Once the crisis was over, these British passport holders of Asian background in East Africa were more or less told that their passports were devalued as they were of brown skin, and without British patriarchy.
Such an uncivilised and unBritish action eventually set aside by the European Court of Human Rights caused immeasurable hardships for hundreds if not thousands who were treated as shuttlecocks while entering into Britain. The silly, dangerous and painful rule changes in immigration laws prevailed upon many thousands, causing unbelievable misfortunes and pains, which are too ghastly to describe.
Who needs immigrants? Why need them?
The British businesses, Institute of Directors, Confederation of British Businesses and many other employers and organisations crave for foreign labour. In the 50s and 60s it was unskilled man power shortage. Now it is skilled man power shortage, who is much needed in our niche fields like IT, financial services, health services, scientific and academic establishments and alike. Some of them were availed from Eastern Europe but in today’s world the British power that may be, can bite the bullet and admit that the largest source of such skilled workers is from South Asia especially India. The immigrants come because they are needed, because their skill and dedication benefits not only themselves but their employers immensely.
Who resists immigration? Who is worried about immigration?
I for one cannot in all honesty recommend uncontrolled immigration for UK or any other country. It depends on the situation. But about 12 percent of the British residents who are labelled as ethnic minorities and also increasing number of mixed origin, the largest and the silliest concerns come from political circles bent upon cheap popularity, who saw an opportunity to gain or retain their power.
David Cameron, a good man, kept on barking upon reducing the number of immigrants. His Home Secretary for many years and the present day Prime Minister Theresa May was perhaps more emphatic than her boss. Even in the EU referendum campaign of 2016, the immigrant number game was played with plenty of falsehood. One of the main reasons for people voting for leave was the immigration scare.
David Cameron paid the price. Today Amber Rudd has paid the price for the sins of the present boss Theresa May. The simple economic fact is that when you exchange your goods and services with one country or another, inevitably it involves exchange of people- the immigrants and expatriates. Amber Rudd an intelligent, hard working, efficient woman has now left. We wish good luck to the incoming Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who has boldly spoken about his first priority- to give justice to the windrush victims. The irony is the burden of the 'immigration' problem is now on the shoulders of an immigrant, that too of South Asian origin.
I respect the British values. And the problems Mr Javid may face tomorrow may not be of the colour of the uniform he wears. But he has a really big challenge to fight with the misguided attitude of political opportunism. The British people as such, to their great credit and admiration, are incredibly tolerant once they know their neighbours, even if they are non whites. It is to their commendation, the British values and traditions that this country can walk tall among the comity of nations, and in the multicultural environment which is there for all to see.
