Immigration

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Thursday 21st October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Valentine, for initiating this important debate.

My grandparents were immigrants, and I like to think that despite their extreme poverty they made a worthwhile input to our society—albeit in a very small way.

I speak as someone who was raised in Hackney, served on Hackney Council and was then MP for Hackney Central. I speak with some authority on immigration because so many of my constituents at that time were from all parts of the world. When I grew up in Hackney, there was scarcely a black or brown face. Today, that has dramatically changed. When I go back there, I can see that immigrants from all over the globe people the area. They are black, brown and white. All bring their own talents and experiences, and that is worth while.

Music, of course, has enormous diversity and has undoubtedly played an important part in the development of the area. That is true also of the proliferation, exchange and understanding of ideas and views which undoubtedly exist. There is, however, also a downside which, regrettably, is often distorted. Of course, extremist groups exist among immigrants and others. They engage in wild and divisive talk. Some have rightly suffered custodial sentences.

In general, however, poor areas such as Hackney have been richly rewarded by multiculturalism. Public transport—buses and railways—could not function without the input of the immigrant community and their progeny.

The same is true of education, the National Health Service, law and so many aspects of our society. Still, however, there are too many barriers—some thoughtlessly erected, perhaps unwillingly—but many have the support of some of the community, which is a matter of regret. There are some unhappy examples but one could say the same of our entire society. In the main, there is no doubt that areas, such as Hackney, have been enriched enormously. That has spilled over to the wider community. I speak with some knowledge of the subject as many of my clients were from immigrant communities. Many were worth while—not all, but many of them—and I am very proud to have represented so many of them. I hope that that will remain so for a very long time. Any threats, such as we have witnessed already, must be attacked and resisted. I am very proud of my background; I was proud to be in the Commons and I am proud to be here. When I think of what has happened it is remarkable, is it not?