LondonSays

Andrew’s post about Boris’ immigration pledge has been chipping away at me for some time. After the post went up Andrew and I had a bit of back and forth on email about it, which has only served to exacerbate my issue with Boris’ position.

Despite the appearance that the LondonSays’ blog team is oracular in its knowledge, I had missed the quiet dropping of the now-Mayor’s pledge. For those who were in a similar boat (or can’t manage the scroll down the page to Andrew’s original post), that pledge was:

“If an immigrant has been here for a long time and there is no realistic prospect of returning them, then I do think that person’s condition should be regularised so that they can pay taxes and join the rest of society.”

As would have been expected, the statement caused consternation in certain Tory circles at the time. ConservativeHome quoted a ‘refined’ position from Team Boris which was essentially (and rather boldly) the same statement but with more thoughtful language:

“Boris was speaking in a personal capacity about what he thinks was best for London. He thinks that long term immigrants who have no prospect of going home (and he means by this those who have been here for 10 years - not the 4 years that was reported) should be registered and pay taxes. He understands the party position but came to this view because of a couple of things:

a) London gets a raw deal from the Chancellor. Boroughs get paid per population and if immigrants are ignored, public services are not properly funded.

b) We should be collecting taxes from those who have been here long term.”

David Cameron stepped back from the policy, arguing that one amnesty begets another, thus storing up more problems for the future. However, he also said: “Boris is his own man. He is standing on his own platform and he dictates his own policies.”

With the quiet dropping of the policy, perhaps this isn’t the case.

It’s no secret that City Hall has had some difficulties of late. The CCHQ drafted ‘rudder’ team of James McGrath and Linton Crosby have both, one way or another, moved on. The recent reinforcement of the already substantial Policy Exchange presence now found in his upper team suggests a Cameroon guiding hand behind the scenes.

Boris has spoken passionately and cogently before on having Muslim ancestry and on his family’s immigrant status. Despite appearances, he is in many ways the product of a multi-cultural world. Certainly there is the history there to believe that his earlier pledge was one from the heart, and not a matter of political expediency.

Politically, the obvious tack when facing a difficult period is to move towards your base. In dropping his pledge, that would certainly appear to be what Boris has done. If that is that case, then his move is disgraceful.

If Boris really does value liberty, freedom and opportunity he should take a leaf out of Ronald Reagan’s book and enact a coherent policy from his beliefs.

Reagan understood the economic and social benefits that immigrants brought to the USA and issued an amnesty in 1986. Those same benefits formed the basis for Boris’ pledge in April. No factors have changed since then to undermine that position.

Boris must look beyond political expediency and do the right thing. To do so would close the door on the unfortunate recent revelations about the pasts and views of some of his staff. It would also mark a clear line and allow him to be defined on his own terms.

Thousands of people are waiting for the Mayor to deliver on his pledge and to be taken into active society. By staying quiet, Boris disenfranchises them all. That is simply not right.