Racial harmony in Britain is being seriously damaged by bogus asylum seekers, Castle Point MP Bob Spink claims.
Mr Spink feels a question he asked in the House of Commons recently revealed an alarming trend in immigration.
He says the number of asylum seekers allowed to remain in Britain after their application has failed, has increased seven-fold in the past five years.
"There are around 80,000 applications for asylum each year. Only 8,000 are allowed, but only 6,000 people are forced to leave the country, so there must be well over 60,000 remaining in the country," Mr Spink pointed out.
"I believe this enormous growth without any public debate is disastrous. Politicians should listen to the public mood."
Mr Spink believes Britain has a duty to care for genuine asylum seekers - but feels many economic migrants are now abusing the system.
He added: "This is seriously damaging to racial harmony in Britain."
But Castle Point Council leader Dave Wells believes that attacking the Government over this subject is in poor taste.
"People shouldn't be trying to score political points over human misery," Mr Wells said.
Published Wednesday October 23, 2002
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