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Weekly Worker 602 Thursday November 24 2005
Fundamental right to migrate
Steven Brooks joined Michael Lavalette in forming a Respect group on Preston council when he left the Labour Party earlier this year. He voted in favour of the two motions calling for the abolition of immigration controls. Anne Mc Shane spoke to him after the debate
MagnifyingAs expected after last week’s heroics, we have passed our £500 monthly target for November. Thanks mainly to a generous £50 from RG, our total is now £565. But I am still hoping that we can make £750 this month in order to help ease our computer problems - and, with just under a week to go, there is no reason why we can’t make it. By the way, comrade RG has written us a note of appreciation - around the margin of his resubscription form! Having got out my magnifying glass, I can see that it reads: “Thanks for such a unique and intelligent paper - keep up the good work!” You’re welcome, comrade. Another contributor was JD, who used our online PayPal facility. He was one of 15,592 web readers last week. Thanks to him for his tenner and also to HO and ST, who also sent in £10. Robbie Rix
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Why did you vote for these motions?
This is an issue that I have always felt very strongly about. Capital can travel freely, while people are not allowed to move. That just does not make sense to me. I cannot see the problem with people moving to different countries. They should have the right to come to Britain, just like I should have the right to move to other countries. It should be a basic right.
Gary McFarlane of the SWP said that it was utopian to make a call for the abolition of immigration controls before we reach socialism. What do you think about that?
That is so obviously not true. A couple of hundred years ago there were no border controls. The United States was built on mass migration. It is the most powerful capitalist nation in the world, born on the basis of immigration. That should tell us something.
He and others also stated that such a policy would cut us off from people and they would not understand the argument.
Well, we need to be prepared to educate people about our policies. We need to deal with all of the myths about overpopulation. It is simply not true that there is a problem with overcrowding. Before the introduction of the NHS many argued that it was impossible to have a free national health service. That was proved wrong. It’s the same with this issue.
One of the biggest lies is that there aren’t enough resources in this country to support a bigger population. The truth is the only thing we can’t support is capitalist greed.
