Former Archbishop of Canterbury calls for immigration restrictions

Dan S. writes:

The fact that the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, is calling for a limitation on immigration into Britain (and he seems to have specifically Muslim immigration in mind) seems like progress. At the same time, he cites concern about the growing popularity of the BNP as a reason for immigration restriction, as though Nick Griffin were a bigger threat to Britain than the assorted jihad-spouting Muslim clerics who are so prevalent in the UK these days. Either way, it does seem that at least some in the Anglican establishment realize that an Islamic Britain does not bode well for them.

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Daniel R. writes:

Dan S. suggests that “concern about the growing popularity of the BNP as a reason for immigration restriction” is unreasonable, but I think this is a little hasty. Although you rightly commend BNP’s recent efforts at self-reform, they were until relatively recently heavily anti-semitic. It’s reasonable to believe that those elements have not been wholly purged, but even if they have been, BNP cannot expect everyone to forget overnight. They need a track record of being serious about opposing anti-semitism.

This is important because one reason the mainstream leadership of a country needs to make tough-but-good decisions is that if they don’t, they may lose support to crazy fringe movements who are right on some question, but wrong on many others and ultimately a step backwards for the country. If crazy fringe movements are becoming more respected, the majority leadership ought to regard it as a sign they are doing something wrong. In this sense, Lord Carey is being quite reasonable.

LA replies:

You write: “BNP cannot expect everyone to forget overnight. They need a track record of being serious about opposing anti-semitism.”

Fair point. I myself have never suggested that people should forget BNP’s past. To the contrary, I have said over and over that the BNP is on probation. What I criticize is the mindless prejudice of people like P. Hitchens and Melanie Phillips who totally ignore the actual, radical transformation that Griffin has worked on the BNP, a transformation that has included the purging of serious anti-Semitism and serious anti-Semites from the party.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at January 12, 2010 12:40 PM | Send