BLANGO TELLS MINISTER - 'FUND VITAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS' (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

BLANGO TELLS MINISTER - 'FUND VITAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS'

April 23, 2007 12:00 AM

Cllr Columba Blango, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Communities, Equalities and Citizenship on Southwark Council, today called on Immigration Minister Liam Byrne to ensure that the Government provided proper funding for new immigrants to the UK and to the borough for the services it provides to them.

Cllr Blango was speaking at a citizenship ceremony for new immigrants held in Southwark Council Chamber at which the Minister was a guest.

"Southwark is a multi-culture, multi-ethnic and multi-religious community," said Cllr Columba Blango. "We take pride in our diversity because it makes us who we are. We are also a welcoming community and have been welcoming new people since Roman times."

"As a local authority, we bear the burden of providing services for new immigrants. I call on the Government to support us better in providing those services."

"The Government must also make sure that it does not discriminate against immigrants. One example of where it does so is its decision to move to fixed fees for legal aid cases which will discriminate against those with complex problems and those without a command of English. In Southwark alone we have seen many solicitors firms which provided specialist help to immigrant communities leave the legal aid system."

"Recently Tony Blair suggested that the reason for much gun crime was that it reflected the culture brought to this country by immigrants. I reject that reasoning. The people in the citizenship ceremony today are victims of such violence rather than perpetrators."