Texting is new immigration weapon

Television is not high on my agenda and breakfast television doesn't even appear. In fact the last time I watched breakfast TV Nick Owen and Ann Diamond were the hosts and she was about 9 stone. However by chance I put on GMTV and guess who was on-the totally incompetent and inept John Reid.

Mr Reid was spouting on about immigration. "Illegal immigration harms the minimum wage, it is not fair, it undermines the rights of British workers, it steals taxpayers' money, by taking benefits, by taking services through the NHS or otherwise ... provided by the British people, British taxpayers for British people themselves," he told GMTV.

"So it is grossly unfair, and we intend, year on year, to make it harder and harder to get benefits, or services, or work, if you are an illegal immigrant," he told GMTV.

Sounds like he means business and we would all be applauding if labour had just been elected. But these clowns have had 10 years to get it right and year on year the situation has got worse to the point that the government freely admits that they don't know how many illegal immigrants there are.

So the new get tough policy has been unveilled. He is to introduce a text messaging reminder scheme for potential visa over stayers. But there is one slight problem with this spamming technique. How will he get the mobile phone number in the first place? Good point. Tell you what we'll give them a free phone as they come through customs.

Like a sketch from Yes, Prime Minister, Reid revealed his ace. A new system to identify illegals fraudulently applying for driving licences. Does he really believe that a person who is prepared to live in a country illegally is that concerned about having the correct qualifications to drive in that country?

Immigration control should be the easiest task of all. Why? because we are a bloody island, but this seems to escape the blundering baffoon in the Home Office.

If you go to America or even a tiny place like Tobago you have to fill out immigration forms before they let you in. If Tobago can do it why can't we?

As Michael Howard said this morning headline grabbing ideas will not solve the problem only hard work and persistence. And knowing where to start, as well Michael.

In the meantime I would like to send a text message to John Reid stating that exit visas to Scotland are imminent. This guy makes Blunkett look good.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-07 09:58:16