Immigration A Toxic Issue In UK
Updated: 4:07pm UK, Saturday 07 September 2013
By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent
Leaked Government documents always cause a stir of interest among Westminster's media pack, not least when they are labelled "sensitive" and "should not be forwarded".
The latest, from the Department for Education, is all about the looming crisis in school places.
A baby boom matched by a surge in immigration is loading pressure onto primary schools, with reports last week of children packed in like "sardines". This memo suggests that the pressure will soon mount on secondarys, too, with 35,000 extra places needed by 2015.
So why the controversy?
What makes this story political is the reason behind the mess and - crucially - who is to blame. After all, immigration is a toxic issue in Britain, with concerns of its impact thrown regularly to MPs when they doorstep their constituents.
For Conservatives it is seen as key to retain a strong stance in the face of the growing threat of UKIP to the right.
That is why Tory sources typically point the finger at Labour to explain the surge in immigration. And it is certainly the case that this internal analysis points to a "threefold increase in net long-term migration since the mid-1990s".
But what is interesting is another line that raises questions about current Government policy, warning that data on immigration is "poor" and it is unclear if current policies will be effective. Whitehall officials are admitting that things are not back on track inside a document that was never meant to be seen outside their own offices.
For a Prime Minister who has promised to bring net immigration down to the "tens of thousands" this conclusion is a problem because it adds fuel to the warnings of critics that his promise is unrealistic.
The freedom of movement within the EU makes it very difficult to take action. Moreover, limiting visas for students or high-level workers from elsewhere could damage the UK economy.
Already this issue has led to a clash between the Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May and Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable, who thinks restricting certain types of immigration could be bad for industry.
Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Schools are at the sharp end.
According to the memo, some local councils are facing a situation in which demand outstrips supply even when only taking into account the children of migrant workers.
Tories will promise that free schools will help ease the pressures - but can they really be opened quickly enough?
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