'Don't dismiss immigration concerns as racist!' Owen Jones hits out at Labour Party
LEFT WING political commentator Owen Jones called on Labour to listen to those concerned by immigration instead of “finger-wagging” at them.
'Wrong to blame problems on immigration' - Owen Jones
The author made the comments while speaking to LBC about concerns his friends in his hometown in Stockport had about the strain of immigration on housing, employment and public services.
“I think they’re problems caused by people at the top of society,” he said.
“However you can’t, on the left, stick your fingers in your ears and dismiss people’s concerns about immigration as being racist.
“I think that has happened in the past and I think people have to engage in a clever way.”
Owen Jones speaking on LBC
You can’t, on the left, stick your fingers in your ears and dismiss people’s concerns about immigration as being racist
The outspoken author, who walked out on a Sky News interview after the Orlando nightclub shooting, also called for a migrant impact fund and language services for immigrants.
He said: “So basically if immigrants pay in more than they get back, as a study suggests, let's ring-fence that money [and] give it to communities of high levels of immigration, so people can see the link.”
He added: “What about the failure to invest in English language services because of cuts? People have concerns about integration so let’s properly fund them.”
Jones told presenter Stig Abell the Labour Party was wrong to “patronise” people for being concerned about immigration.
“I think there are things Labour can say instead of finger wagging at people – saying no, no, no, no, no, concerns about immigration are wrong.
“Instead, [it should] go ‘look, this is where people are at, including people I grew up for example in Stockport, let’s come up with policies that address those issues’.
“As well as that, let's talk about the failure of politicians to build housing, protect secure jobs and defend living standards. It’s not an easy thing to do but that’s what we have to do.”