Population control is a rubbish idea - it is blatantly obvious why 'net immigration into Britain rises to record levels' in recent times - this is because Britain in the past have adopted a more draconian closed door policy on immigration and asylum.

As for the CentreForum, they sound more like a think-tank for managerial bean-counters - freedom and liberty are nowhere to be seen and heard from them.

Nor am I convinced by the many arguments that immigration constitutes a social 'problem' - no, from where I am standing, it is the non-existent defense of freedom and liberty that is the 'problem' here.

CentreForum argues on its website that they 'intend to set out a confident, forward looking agenda that champions the free movement of goods, capital, services and people'. They should have been more honest with themselves and its readers, and argued, that they will 'champion the cause of the free movement of goods, capital and services, however, when it comes to people, there is a big 'but' involved'.

Champions of the 'free movement' of people? My arse.

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Excellent read, I hadn't heard about the 2011 date for other EU nations. That would surely put a stopper in the mouths of those that forecast uncontrollable rises in immigration for years and years to come. I have heard the arguments about the need for more flexibility and funding for services though, it's a shame that no politician will publicly stand up and say this sort of thing for fear of losing votes for their party though.

I think that's unfair Courtney - or you have got the wrong end of the stick. CentreForum are arguing AGAINST the idea of a population policy and for the free movement of people. They quite often publish and work with Phillippe Legrain, for example, who is for completely open borders!

http://www.philippelegrain.com/

Jon

Thanks for you reply - however, after re-reading the CentreForum's document, I am still not convinced that the think-tank is not wholeheartedly the 'champion' of the free movement of people as it boldly claims to be.

The CentreForum's reservations about their desire for a 'population policy' is not one based on a matter of principle - far from it, its 'opposition' appears to be based on the premise that there is no 'sound evidence' that exists at present for the need of a population policy - but, that could change - and so too would the think-tank's reservations.

At present, CentreForum has no reservations about British immigration controls that impose tight restrictions on the freedom of movement on people from outside the EU (even on some within the EU like Romanians & Bulgarians). Indeed, the think-tank argues that 'effective and proportionate immigration controls... will remain necessary'. And why may I ask? On the spurious grounds of 'security'.

Having said that, if indeed, the CentreForum are actually arguing against a population policy - then they should be commended. However, their opposition should be a matter of political principle, rather than being guided by managerial bean-counting expediency.

Let's be crystal clear, firstly we are in favour of people's rights to travel and work where they wish to; secondly we do not want draconian Chinese-style 1-child only coercion. That said it is I think reasonable to ask: If there are large numbers of *our* people 'on the sick' (2.7 mn I believe) should we be pleased that a similar number of Poles happily fill and work hard at low-paid jobs? What's our country for, if not our own people? So why not put up minimum wage, and keep putting it up until a balance is struck. Anathema to the bosses, but they are the ones profiting (and who seem to pull all the strings of government). Birth limitation? Let women choose, I mean really freely choose. Let women have education, equality etc (good in themselves) and we soon get Italian levels of birthrates.

An Optimum Population Policy leading to a less crowded country does not have to be nasty, domineering, censorious. It can and should be about liberating, encouraging, bettering our people, all of our people.

Jon,

Thanks for the very generous review. With hindsight (this was written before Christmas) I think I should have also placed greater emphasis on the strength of UK economy and the pound which makes sterling such an attractive currency for immigrants to be paid in.

There was a very interesting article in the Telegraph last week which pointed out that there had been a 35 per cent depreciation in the pound versus the Polish Zloty, radically reducing the benefits of working here. As a result, I suspect this whole debate will look very different by the end of the decade - but whoever is in government will be able to try and claim 'success' in reducing immigration even if tighter controls have done very little...

And we'll have infinite supplies of water, power, land etc miraculously appearing out of nowhere.

I find it fascinating that our third party goes on about green issues and banning petrol driven cars, thinks nothing of cramming more and more people who all use electricity, water, fuel, transport and need somewhere to live into an already pretty highly populated state but then that would be too much like joined up thinking.