'They're hard workers' Ex-PM Tony Blair DEFENDS opening up UK to mass immigration
TONY Blair last night defended his decision to open Britain's doors to hundreds of thousands of eastern Europeans migrants.
By TOM PARFAITPUBLISHED: 00:41, Wed, May 4, 2016 | UPDATED: 16:12, Wed, May 4, 2016
As Prime Minister he let people from the eight former Communist states work in Britain without restrictions.
The controversial move led to around 170,000 migrants from eastern Europe moving to the UK every year.
But the former Labour leader insisted the move has benefited Britain because of the contribution they have made to the country.
He said: "Personally, I do not feel that the immigration from eastern Europe was a problem for Britain.
“I think those people contribute far more in taxes than they ever take in benefits.
“They're hard-working people, they're good members of our community. And the benefit of having eastern Europe in the EU is enormous."
Blair also insisted Britain would vote to stay in the EU because Brexit risks plunging families into "economic insecurity".
And he defended Barack Obama was right to wade into the Brussels debate during a visit to London last month.
He said: "When someone like president Obama comes, I think it's important we know his view. It does count."
Last year Blair's former chief adviser on Europe admitted his administration played “politics” with the immigration system.
Sir Stephen Wall said: "The primary argument [for letting migrants from the ex-Communist states work in Britain] was the political one – this was the right thing to do.
"We attached a lot of importance to them as democratic countries and keeping our position as the number one friend of eastern and central Europeans."
Ex-PM Tony Blair DEFENDS opening up Britain to mass immigration | UK | News | Daily Express
