Naushabah Khan responds to Parmjit Dhanda’s article 2020 vision
Parmjit Dhanda sets out the challenges for a future Labour government. Importantly, he picks up on the need to ‘engage society in a more educative process about globalisation.’ He is correct in identifying the need to embrace the increasingly interconnected world we live in, and also to ensure we bring communities with us.
But I believe we need to go further. We need to make the positive case for immigration and reclaim the immigration debate, which so far has been dominated by fringe parties like the United Kingdom Independence party and certain tabloids, and tackle the scaremongering tactics they use head-on. We know that immigration comes with its drawbacks, but we also know that it is good for Britain and vital for our future prosperity and in creating opportunities. Labour has policies to deal with the rough edges and we can put those in place without stemming migration.
For me this is personal. As the child of migrants I was brought up in a tolerant and welcoming Britain. I am proud of this country and proud to call myself British. That is a Britain worth fighting for, but in order to do so we need to be bolder in our approach.
The legacy left by a Labour government, that Parmjit Dhanda’s children were born in to, is a legacy we should also be proud of. It was a Labour government that achieved a national minimum wage; devolution; thousands more doctors and nurses; Sure Start centres; the winter fuel allowance; civil partnerships; increased numbers of university students and apprenticeships. And we can do it again.
We are the party that can deliver a hopeful future, create opportunity, and nurture ambition regardless of your background, race or religion, even in difficult circumstances. That is the Britain we need to create for 2020 and beyond.
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Naushabah Khan is parliamentary candidate for Rochester and Strood. She is responding to the article 2020 vision by Parmjit Dhanda