Facebook Pixel 'SPECTACULAR MISTAKE TO OPEN BORDERS | Daily Express - newspaper - Les denne historien på Magzter.com

Prøve GULL - Gratis

'SPECTACULAR MISTAKE TO OPEN BORDERS

Daily Express

|

December 31, 2024

Records reveal ex-PM Blair gave unrestricted access to EU migrants despite warnings

- Michael Knowles

TONY Blair threw open UK borders to millions of migrants to boost the economy despite his ministers advising him against it.

In 2004, the former PM granted eastern Europeans unrestricted access to the British labour markets.

Government records released today show that former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Deputy PM John Prescott warned Sir Tony of a surge in immigration unless controls were put in place.

They wanted work permits to be introduced but the Treasury and ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett backed the policy. Mr Straw later described the decision as a major error.

He admitted: "One spectacular mistake in which I participated (not alone) was in lifting the transitional restrictions on the eastern European states like Poland and Hungary which joined the EU in mid-2004.

"We thought that it would be good for Britain if these folk could come and work here from 2004.

"Thorough research by the Home Office suggested that the impact of this benevolence would in any event be 'relatively small, at between 5,000 and 13,000 immigrants per year up to 2010'.

"Events proved these forecasts worthless. Net migration reached close to a quarter of a million at its peak in 2010. Lots of red faces, mine included." Critics have accused Sir Tony of "running a concealed policy of open borders" to "rig the economic numbers", adding that Labour have always been "open border fanatics".

FLERE HISTORIER FRA Daily Express

Daily Express

Daily Express

TANDY TO MUTE HIS MENTOR GREGOR

WALES head coach Steve Tandy admits contact with his former Scotland boss Gregor Townsend will slow down ahead of their Six Nations clash in Cardiff tomorrow.

time to read

1 mins

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

TOON'S TURN IS SUMMIT SPECIAL

ANTHONY GORDON has admitted the mood in the Newcastle dressing room was hit hard by their recent five-game winless run.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Rowett in appeal to his Foxes

GARY ROWETT was given an immediate insight into the chaos at Leicester with more off-field drama in just his second day in the job.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Jim could cost United great deal

MANCHESTER UNITED fear missing out on millions in new sponsorship deals in the wake of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's controversial comments about UK immigration.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

No, I can't watch myself...I get on my own nerves!

BRITAIN'S Got Talent is back on our screens this weekend, but Amanda Holden won't be watching it on catch-up.

time to read

2 mins

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

WIN OR BUST FOR ARTETA

No trophies, no new Gunners deal

time to read

2 mins

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Bottles from the 1960s found on island beach

DECADES-OLD plastic bottles from Canada and Japan washed up on an Orkney island.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

BGT dancer killed herself after arrest

BRITAIN'S Got Talent dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson took her own life days after being arrested on suspicion of \"child sex offending\", a coroner has ruled.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Farke: It's notte over

DANIEL FARKE has not written off Facundo Buonanotte after one bad performance for Leeds but stressed the Brighton loanee was not signed to be an immediate starter.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Daily Express

Tactical vote challenge for Reform UK

MILLIONS of Labour voters would back the Greens or the Liberal Democrats to stop Nigel Farage's Reform UK taking power.

time to read

1 min

February 20, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size