Immigration

The issue of immigration is playing an increasingly pivotal role in this election campaign and in Bolton West, candidates have been keen to show that their party is not afraid to present policies on the controversial issue.

Labour’s Julie Hilling said: “Labour is proud of Britain’s diversity, where people have come from abroad over many generations to build our businesses, work in our public services and contribute to our nation’s wealth. However, we also understand that immigration needs to be properly controlled and the rules fairly enforced.

"So we will make our borders stronger with 1000 more border and enforcement staff, counting people in and out of the country, preventing illegal immigration and making it easier to deport foreign criminals."

UKIP has always presented a strong line on immigration and Bob Horsefield is no different, he said: “The impact of immigration on welfare, transport, the NHS, schools and the suppression of wages and jobs is there for all to see — not in the sensationalist tabloid newspapers, but rational bodies like migration watch and the office for national statistics.

“I agree with UKIP policy regarding a points based system of entry into this country — If we need them we will take them.”

John Vickers and the TUSC take a very different approach, he said: “TUSC is opposed to any racist immigration policy.

“Too often immigrants are used as a scapegoat for a host of unrelated problems, housing, the economy and the NHS.

“TUSC welcomes diversity while at the same time opposing racism, fascism and discrimination —we defend the right to asylum and would repeal the 2014 Immigration Act and all racist immigration controls, replacing these with fair and properly managed strategies.”

Conservative Chris Green said: “The Coalition government has closed 700 bogus colleges and reduced non-EU immigration but the Conservatives will give the British people an in/out referendum so we can see what the EU offer on border controls is and vote accordingly.

“I believe that we should have balanced immigration so that we stabilise our population at 65m by mid-century rather than the projected 78.6m.”

Independent candidate Andy Smith thinks it is important to recognise the important role of immigration in our region, he said: “The feedback I get from most people is that this issue is more about 'numbers' rather than anything else but Bolton and the North West in general, has a history of adapting pro-actively with changes in culture, transport and industry. “Indeed, we understand that centuries of diversity have actually created the vibrant character of the town and region we love.”

Andrew Martin of the Liberal Democrats agrees, adding: “Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, I’m not going to join the immigration arms race.

“Our NHS depends on immigrants and I’m grateful for their contributions to the health of members of my family.”