Tory candidate for Walsall wants your views on immigration

Douglas Hansen-Luke and immigration

Parliamentary candidate for Walsall, Douglas Hansen-Luke, posted a photo on Facebook, lauding the wonderful things with immigration his party has done.   He no doubt did not expect the reaction he did receive, from British citizens impacted by the rules, and his replies to those who told him how let down they felt by the government, show he's likely been seduced by Tory propaganda. 

Please help him see the light and tell him what you think by posting on the  original FP post
Or in the revised one Douglas put up to detract attention from the original one, here
And in case the posts are 'accidentally deleted', see this

"My understanding is that if you're contributing and can completely support yourselves then spouses can take partners in to Britain"

Douglas shows a lack of understanding that even those earning very high salaries are forced to spend 8 to 18 months apart from their partner in order to satsify the rules.


"You've married a non-Brit and don't have the funds to support your partner. Instead you'd like other tax-payers to that for you. If that's the case then I'm afraid that I'm not on your side. If that's not the case then by all means put me right."

Douglas shows a lack of understanding of 'no recourse to public funds' which means non-EEA citizens - albeit married to British citizens - cannot access benefits.  At no point did any of the posters suggest taxpayers should pay for their spouse to live in the UK.

Then, there was this: 

"Let's be very clear immigration is a good thing. It enriches our country and if done well allows us to grow and support those already here. What is not sensible is letting in non-Brits and supporting them when we are going deeper in to debt each day just meeting current obligations. Is it fair that current tax payer have to pay for that or that those who have paid in all their lives have to accept reduce services because of increased demand?

I am the child of immigrants. Both my parents worked in the NHS. I understand the case for immigration, I don't understand the case for putting non-Brits before our own people.

And now to address the pain of those who have commented so far. I am sure that the current system is not perfect and I'm sure that we don't always get it right. And when we do, your voice is heard. Our country is far more tolerant than most. If fair play is what's needed and your cause is just then I would be happy to support you and I'm sure all politicians would be too no matter their party."

Update - 12th March 2015

Power of the people shown when Tory candidate, Douglas Hansen-Luke further to the volume of replies, requested a meeting with BritCits, taking place as an hour long phone call.

Douglas admitted knowing very little about family immigration rules - despite the fact that he has a foreign wife.  He was very surpised to know that had his wife's spouse visa application been made post 2012 rather than in 2005, they would have had to spend time apart and it may not have been feasible for them to relocate to the UK.  He asked for me to explain to him what the rules are and I was able to share the experiences that many of you have had as examples. 

He was not aware
- that even those who earn over the threshold have to still spend 12-18 months apart from their spouse (because of the evidential requirements)
- of the issues faced by those with a Prohibited Steps Order in place
- of the ELT being needed pre entry into the country
- of the inflexibility in the rules in taking into account income and expenditure (e.g. if own home, no rent or mortgage costs should mean lower income required)...

- ADR rules slamming the door shut on elderly relatives.

- the probationary period having been increased from 2 years to 5 years

....essentially lots he wasnt aware of.

On the face of it, he agreed with us, stating the policy is 'not sensible' and "un-British" and not in keeping with the family friendly view he had of his own party, a view which is welcome and certainly places Douglas in company with a handful of decent already elected politicians.

Douglas wants to hear from people in the Walsall region - so pls do contact him on facebook or through his email: douglas@workingforwalsall.com and let him know what you think of the Tory family immigration rules and what change you want to see. He was surprised to hear that Tories, amongst our membership at least, had lost a lot of support because of these rules, as a surprising number of us live in what were formerly safe Tory seats.

What did he say he will do? 

1) likely ask around to see if what I have told him is right - which we know it is

2) "When" he is elected as MP (he seemed very confident), will vote the right way when it comes to amending the rules.  Currently difficult to depart from the standard Tory party line because he is in a very closely contested seat.  But he would need to see that his constituents want change - so this comes from you guys living in the area - or indeed, in any area, raising this with the candidates standing for the seat come this election.

3) Might make a statement on Facebook - feel free to follow up with him asking for that, either on Facebook, email address or twitter: @DHansenLuke

4) Agreed that when he makes statements praising the Tory immigration policy (incidentally he is not a fan of the Tories treatment of international students either!) he will not conflate this with their policy on family immigration

5)  Come out publicly about his own experience of the immigration rules and the points we have discussed, once elected.