As the people of Dover stare out across the sea from the White Cliffs, their overriding concern is for the safety and security of our borders and the security of our nation. It is of immense comfort for them to know that Damian Green MP stands with them.
Living in the Gateway to England, they know first hand how the Government has totally failed to keep our borders secure. They know all about the disgusting human trafficking that goes on, the bogus asylum seekers and the evil crime syndicates that smuggle people in who have no right to be here. My mailbag as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Dover is filled with disgust and concern about the situation. They know the Government does nothing about it and has lost control of our borders.
So amid the protests about Stalinesque behaviour, show trials and coverups, let's not forget what Damian is really in the dock for. Let's not forget his brilliant work fighting tirelessly to hold the Government to account for its disgraceful failure to keep our nation and its borders safe. And let's remember why it matters so much to us all:
- 577,000 people came to Britain in 2007 - and net migration was 237,000
- The population has risen 1.8 million since 1997 thanks to immigration alone
- There were 25,800 asylum applications in the 12 months to September 2008, a rise of 15% on the year before
- To cope with all this, some 65,000 new homes are needed each year, meaning even more concrete and congestion along with increasing pressure on our public services
And while they fail to stop people coming to Britain that have no right to be here, did you know that at Dover they arrest illegal entrants who try to leave the country? At the Dover Removal Centre, they give bail to people who are being held . . . people who then, surprise, surprise, vanish and are never seen again. Meanwhile France has stopped us using anti people smuggling scanners at Calais . . . without a squeak of protest from the UK Government.
This is why Damian's work has been so important. It's time for a renewed focus on border security, the safety and security of our nation and all the terrible figures the Government is so desperate to hide.
