Iain Duncan Smith: “Immigration is the economy, stupid.”
Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has warned that unchecked immigration will hit both wages and the affordability of homes as a new report has forecast that almost half a million refugees could arrive in the UK from 2020 onwards.
According to a report from lobbying group Migration Watch, up to 968,000 of the 1.7m refugees already in the EU could be granted asylum.
If each was granted citizenship, Migration Watch estimated that 2020 could see each then bring four further family members into the EU, creating a total influx of 4.8m refugees to Europe, with up to 10 per cent, or 480,000, drawn to the UK by the availability of low-skilled work and existing migrant communities
Duncan Smith said: “Immigration is an economic issue because it has had a big impact on people's wages – forcing them down, even as the cost of living has risen. It has also had a dramatic impact on people’s ability to afford their own homes, and their ability to access good public services. To coin a phrase… "immigration is the economy, stupid'.
“Big banks and highly paid corporate executives may fail to realise the link – because they have the means to afford alternatives, As always, when public services are under pressure it is those without those same resources who suffer.”
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Launching the report, Migration Watch UK chair Lord Green of Deddington said: “The UK could well face a significant secondary flow of refugees from Europe in the coming years adding to the already huge strain being placed on housing and public services.
“While the UK has so far been largely shielded from the crisis in Southern Europe, this potential flow can only add to the impact of migration which is already seriously affecting communities across the country.”
However, Remain campaigners Britain Stronger in Europe condemned the Migration Watch figures as “false and bogus”, noting that the Migration Watch report assumes that all refugees will be granted EU citizenship, as well as disputing the suggestion that for each asylum seeker, four family members will join in future.
“The evidence shows the overwhelming majority of refugees will never get the right to come to Britain,” Labour MP Emma Reynolds said.
“There is only one thing we know for certain – leaving Europe will wreck our economy. That will cost jobs, damage people’s livelihoods, and weaken our economic future. Our children and grandchildren will pay the price.”