It’s easy to say that politics has changed in the last two years, but the reason why we have truisms is that they are true. One of these areas where there has been a dramatic change has been immigration.
Immigration has always been an issue in Bridge, but it has now shot to the top of the agenda. When I was canvassing in the Hayes a couple of weeks ago immigration had gone to the top in a place where I can’t remember it being mentioned once in the last General Election. Part of this may have been due to the BNP raising the issue by standing in the last council election, but there seems to have been something else going on.
Even when I’m delivering leaflets I usually have at least one conversation with a voter about immigration and how it affects their area. This is not the case when I’m on the other side of the river (although it’s still an issue).
Why is Bridge talking about immigration in particular?
The high level of buy to let activity in the Old Stoke area may be one reason why immigration’s so talked about which will probably explain why there are so many more European Union immigrants live around here. I’ve heard very few complaints about crime and immigration (although anti-social behaviour certainly is an issue). Job insecurity may also be increasing people’s perception of immigration – but it wouldn’t explain why Bridge is so worried about immigration.
However the main parties in Bridge, both Labour and Conservative are going to have to find out why people are worried about immigration here and actually address those concerns. Sadly this may be a bit too much to hope for when a Labour agent (who is not paid for by the taxpayer, honest) goes around a count accusing a Tory councillor of being friends with fascists due to the fact that he beat a Labour candidate.
This needs to stop. We need to up the maturity on this debate and address the voter’s legitimate concerns on this issue, because if we don’t then there is a darker force waiting in the wings who will.
