Race ban fears: Mrs T. speaks

Opposition leader Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the MP for Finchley and Friern Barnet, made the following exclusive statement to this newspaper yesterday:

“There has been no change in Conservative policy on immigration from that announced by the Shadow Home Secretary, William Whitelaw, at the party conference.”

Her agent in Finchley, Roy Langstone, said: “Of course there has been no change. We are merely re-stating our policy.”

Mrs Thatcher's statement followed criticism from Asian leaders and a National Front spokesman that the Tories were “jumping on the band-waggon” on the immigration issue.

A party policy document drawn up by Keith Speed, a junior spokesman on home affairs, at the behest of Mr Whitelaw, is due for completion in the next few weeks and its recommendations will be discussed by the Shadow Cabinet.

‘Inhuman’

Reports at the weekend suggested the recommendations would include drastically reducing the number of immigrants and tightening controls.

If accepted, the measures would spell the end of automatic right of entry for all immigrants other than citizens of Common Market countries, and a strict tightening up of the rules governing admittance of relatives.

“Inhuman,” said the chairman of Barnet Community Relations Council, Parmadh Sharma.

He said: “If they are trying to bring the subject up because an election is coming, I think it would be objectionable. Asians have got an extended family system—it would be disastrous.”

Mrs Thatcher is vicepresident of the CRC and Mr Sharma plans to contact her on the issue.

There was a warning, too, from the chairman of Barnet branch of the Anglo-Asian Conservative Society, Mr J. Gohel.

He said: “If there is any going back on the rights of the immigrants already residing here regarding dependants, it would be most unwelcome and very bitterly resented.

“If there is a general restriction on new immigrants it should be enforced without discrimination against any particular race and without prejudice to those in East Africa.”

Bernard Franklin, the National Front prospective Parliamentary candidate for Hendon North, accused the Conservatives of “apeing” the Front on immigration and law and order in a bid to win back votes they had lost.

“The Conservatives are making general election promises on immigration through fear of losing votes to the Front. They are not fooling anyone,” he said.