Guy Dampier

So he made these remarks at a press conference for the government's new immigration white paper. And he said that he wants to take back control of our borders. And he's called the previous era of mass immigration squalid. So here's a little bit of that speech.

So he made these remarks at a press conference for the government's new immigration white paper. And he said that he wants to take back control of our borders. And he's called the previous era of mass immigration squalid. So here's a little bit of that speech.

He's also blamed the previous Conservative government for the large increase in immigration since 2021, which saw net migration quadruple in only a few years. In 2023, migration was actually over a million people, which is nearly the same size as Birmingham, the second biggest city in the whole country. And he's called this a one-nation experiment in open borders.

He's also blamed the previous Conservative government for the large increase in immigration since 2021, which saw net migration quadruple in only a few years. In 2023, migration was actually over a million people, which is nearly the same size as Birmingham, the second biggest city in the whole country. And he's called this a one-nation experiment in open borders.

And he's warned that Britain's at risk of becoming an island of strangers. So although he praised diversity and described migration as part of Britain's story, he said that immigrants have got to commit to integrate. They've got to learn English. And he's also extended the period required to apply for permanent settlement. So it's gone from five years to 10 years.

And he's warned that Britain's at risk of becoming an island of strangers. So although he praised diversity and described migration as part of Britain's story, he said that immigrants have got to commit to integrate. They've got to learn English. And he's also extended the period required to apply for permanent settlement. So it's gone from five years to 10 years.

And that will reassure a lot of people who are very worried that the millions of low skilled immigrants who come here in the last few years would very soon be eligible for settlement, at which point they could access the welfare state. And we could have been looking at a bill in the billions of pounds.

And that will reassure a lot of people who are very worried that the millions of low skilled immigrants who come here in the last few years would very soon be eligible for settlement, at which point they could access the welfare state. And we could have been looking at a bill in the billions of pounds.

So immigration policy has been dominated by this idea that immigration is always good for the economy and it's only ever illegal immigration, which is bad. So this is a big rhetorical shift.

So immigration policy has been dominated by this idea that immigration is always good for the economy and it's only ever illegal immigration, which is bad. So this is a big rhetorical shift.

We have a Labour government at the moment, their left wing. And as you expect, there's been a lot of outrage from their base. They had a few councillors resign. Some of their MPs have come out against the speech. With that said, most people agree with what he said.

We have a Labour government at the moment, their left wing. And as you expect, there's been a lot of outrage from their base. They had a few councillors resign. Some of their MPs have come out against the speech. With that said, most people agree with what he said.

People can see all around them that mass immigration has been bad for the country, whether we're talking about the low economic growth and stagnant productivity, or serious things like rape gangs who prey on vulnerable girls, and hate marches where we've seen people carrying pro-Hamas banners.

People can see all around them that mass immigration has been bad for the country, whether we're talking about the low economic growth and stagnant productivity, or serious things like rape gangs who prey on vulnerable girls, and hate marches where we've seen people carrying pro-Hamas banners.

So in a lot of ways, the prime minister is really reflecting the mood of the country rather than driving it. Very recently, we had local elections, what you probably call municipal elections, in which the Labour Party did very badly. And the Anti-Immigration Reform Party, which is led by Nigel Farage, did very well.

So in a lot of ways, the prime minister is really reflecting the mood of the country rather than driving it. Very recently, we had local elections, what you probably call municipal elections, in which the Labour Party did very badly. And the Anti-Immigration Reform Party, which is led by Nigel Farage, did very well.

So some people will think that this is an attempt to win back voters and stem that collapse in popularity. But for people on the right, this is also a vindication. The prime minister is saying things we've argued about for years, but a lot of us are going to be skeptical about whether the prime minister is actually going to achieve what he claims he's going to do.

So some people will think that this is an attempt to win back voters and stem that collapse in popularity. But for people on the right, this is also a vindication. The prime minister is saying things we've argued about for years, but a lot of us are going to be skeptical about whether the prime minister is actually going to achieve what he claims he's going to do.

Thank you very much for having me on.

Thank you very much for having me on.