One million legal immigrants since 1997

Say Migrationwatch.

The BBC takes a more balanced view.

But Keith Best, of the Immigration Advisory Service, said the figures were "extremely mischievous" and it was not known whether the UK was a country of immigration or emigration.


And would Keith Best tell us a lie ?

A Home Office spokesman said the government "is committed to pursuing a balanced migration policy by ensuring that we tackle abuse of the system but selectively admit those migrant workers to the UK where it is in the interests of our economy".

Of course. We need immigrants to do the jobs we can't or won't do. They're good for the economy. They bring wealth to Britain.

Which makes it very odd that immigrant groups, according to TUC leader Brendan Barber, have higher rates of unemployment than the natives.

A recent TUC report showed that Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities were among the most deprived the country.
"Looking at unemployment, we have known for a long time that ethnic minority groups fare less well than their counterparts," he said.
"On housing, we have not been delivering for many years. If you add all that to the evidence on the extent of poverty in Britain, members of minority groups fare much, much worse than others."

I'm not sure how being unemployed is vital to the UK economy. But I'm sure someone can tell me.