Left Foot Forward
UKIP MEP thrown out of European Parliament for Nazi slur
United Kingdom Independence Party MEP Godfrey Bloom has unleashed yet another stream of coarse, xenophobic abuse - this time in the European Parliament. Whilst listening to a speech by German Social Democrat MEP Martin Schulz, Bloom shouted “Ein volk, ein reich, ein fuhrer” – one people, one empire, one leader. Bloom was ordered to leave the chamber and went on to describe Mr Schultz as “a national socialist”.
Immigration cap: Too low for business, but too high to meet Government targets
The Government has today announced its long-trailed cap on immigration. The cap is more accurately described as a cap on skilled migration for work from outside the EU through Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points-Based System.
Risk of extremism in schools must be taken seriously
After extensive trailing yesterday across the BBC and other media, Panorama’s investigation of Islamic schools in the UK, ‘British schools, Islamic rules’, was broadcast last night, writes the Quilliam Foundation's George Readings.
Immigration was a factor, but it did not cost Labour the election
As the government announces its new immigration cap today, some in Labour may be tempted to re-visit the thesis that a tougher policy on immigration could have saved the party from electoral defeat in 2010. The idea that immigration played a critical and negative role for Labour in the general election is now well established; the evidence, however, simply does not support such a position.
Hannan accused of “dishonourable” behaviour as Tory MEPs lurch right
The Tory right were on the march in Brussels today, voting in hardline Eurosceptic Martin Callanan as the leader of the party's MEPs. Callanan was the unanimous victor in the poll of the Conservative's 24 Members of the European Parliament, winning over 50 per cent of the vote - including the support of Daniel Hannan, who had told Callanan's rival Charles Tannock he would vote for him, only to double-cross him.
Coalition’s housing plans will disincentivise aspiration
There is a sound argument to try to support greater mobility in social housing - only five per cent of social tenants moved home over the past year compared to almost a quarter of tenants in the private sector, though it is unclear what an ‘optimal’ level would be. It is also important to emphasise that it is councils and housing associations that will decide the length of tenancies, so the key question is how they will use their new freedoms.