Dear Editor
Re: Monthly Column of Mohammad Yasin MP dated 20th July 2023
I would like to address a few points made by Mr. Yasin in his column, starting off with the Illegal Migration Bill. The UK has a long history of offering refuge to those fleeing conflict. The government has created bespoke schemes for Hong Kong nationals holding BN(O) passports, Ukrainian nationals and Afghan nationals who assisted UK forces; these schemes have resulted in us issuing over 300,000 visas for people fleeing conflict and authoritarian regimes. While these safe routes offer a model for the government to build on, it is important that we do not ignore the small boats crossings which are extremely dangerous for those who undertake the journey. Stopping these journeys through disrupting the business model of criminal gangs is what the Illegal Migration Bill attempts to do. I also note that the PM Rishi Sunak agreed a deal with France to prevent these journeys from happening in the first place. Mr. Yasin also fails to mention the success in sending back hundreds of Albanian migrants who illegally arrived in the UK through a deal agreed with the Albanian government.
Regarding public sector strikes, Mr Yasin fails to note that the government has accepted the recommendations of independent Pay Review Bodies and agreed a historic pay rise of 6% for public sector workers. At a time of high inflation, the government has chosen not to fund this through further borrowing but instead finding efficiencies in other government departments. It would be prudent for unions, who significantly fund the Labour party, to come to a compromise and call off future strikes.
Finally, I would like to reiterate that the Conservatives are on the side of the working people. 4 million more people are now in work since 2010. The Department of Education is focusing heavily on apprenticeships for both young people and older returners, with the first ever NHS doctor apprenticeship starting from September 2024. We are also focusing on delivering childcare reforms, so that parents with young children, particularly women, can return to the workforce.
Cllr Pinder Chauhan
Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bedford & Kempston
