It’s certainly a liberal position to take. And a contentious one.

I’m not sure about Philippe Legrain’s argument.

It seems that to disagree with him leaves you open being branded as a right winger.

I just mentioned this LC thread on this Irish Website called ”Politics ie” where they are banging on (as they so often do) about the changing face of Ireland because of its immigration, which I think has been in recent years, higher than Britain’s.
http://www.politics.ie/current-affairs/128076-why-so-many-council-houses-going-foreigners-12.html

My comment was on page 12.

“I love migrants” isn’t this straying dangerously close into Brass Eye territory?

Not all migrants are lovable (any more than non-migrants are);
http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/doughnuts-and-diversity-the-essential-ingredients-of-modern-british-policing/

I see where your coming from A and E.
Maybe the title is required to counteract he constant negative press against migrants.

[3] “Maybe the title is required to counteract he constant negative press against migrants” – I doubt if it will work though?

The press sell more papers with scare/shock stories – most (tabloids) have generally adopted a negative slant not least because of current economic uncertainties (recession, large national debt, unemployment issues, housing shortages, etc).
While those in the ‘anti’ camp will not change their position simply because of a slogan, or ‘facts’ about the effects of immigration (which are often contested by other sources).

Such slogans can be tantamount to the message (from the powers-that-be) that the man/woman on the street cannot be trusted to arrive at a reasonable or balanced view of their own accord?

Anyway,some are already arguing that ‘nanny knows best’ is not always the most effective strategy?
http://nannyknowsbest.blogspot.com/2010/04/nanny-burns-fat-people.html

I suspect that anti-immigration sentiments will slowly modify (for the better) as more marriages/relationships develop between the various groups and the tendency toward separate communities becomes less popular amongst the younger generations – it will take time but positive change IS possible without sloganeering.

Love Migrants, Hate United

“I suspect that anti-immigration sentiments will slowly modify (for the better) as more marriages/relationships develop between the various groups and the tendency toward separate communities becomes less popular amongst the younger generations – it will take time but positive change IS possible without sloganeering.”

“56% of [British presumably] Asians thought whoever wins election should be tougher on immigration”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8619256.stm

Attitudes to race relations are much improved, (see Britain coming to terms with diversity – Kent March 2008.ppt), but objection to race and objection to mass immigration are not the same thing. The liberal-left needs to get past this sticking point and address the concerns of those it claims to be watching out for.

[6] the views of both the left or right are almost immaterial as long as we belong to the EU – the agenda for migration patterns (between EU territories) are simply no longer controlled by nation states.

I understand at least 75% of the annual migrant population arrived from the EU, an inevitable development, perhaps as we veer toward a European Supa-state?

Indeed some even go so far as to define Britishness as artificial (see comment 3)
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/04/19/how-british-is-nick-clegg-who-cares/#comments

“I understand at least 75% of the annual migrant population arrived from the EU, an inevitable development, perhaps as we veer toward a European Supa-state?”

No thats incorrect, but seems a widely held view on this site for some reason. Cyclical migration from the EU has accounted for 1 in 4 of migrants under New Labours watch. 3 out of every 4 migrants from 1997 onwards have been new commonwealth, Africa, Asia, etc.

My original point is that recent immigrants and their descendants also view Labours immigration as a problem. It is not about race, no matter how much those on the liberal-left might like it to be.

should read;
My original point is that recent immigrants and their descendants also view Labours immigration policy as a problem.

I was going to joke that I’d buy a T-Shirt but then I found they sell T-Shirts, however, the bastards are discriminating against big men, as they only go up to large.