Arch-Europhile Sir Vince Cable rips up years of Lib Dem thinking by declaring mass immigration may have been a disaster for Britain
The Lib Dem peer said today that he had "serious doubts" that EU free movement was even desirable
ARCH Europhile Sir Vince Cable ripped up years of Lib Dem thinking today when he declared that Britain must take back its borders and end freedom of movement.
The ex-Lib Dem Business Secretary said that he had "serious doubts that EU free movement is tenable or even desirable" and that it had "ambiguous" results on the British economy.
The party grandee, who served in the Coalition Government until he lost his seat at the 2015 General Election, said that Brexit would allow for a more "rational" immigration policy.
He added that the economic benefits of open borders were "debatable".
The former cabinet minister also admitted that migrants and businesses gained the most from freedom of movement, and not the countries themselves.
The intervention plunged the party grandee, who left the Commons in 2015, directly into conflict with leader Tim Farron who is a passionate defender of open borders.
Last night Mr Farron issued a furious slap down of his former colleague, opening a serious rift within Britain’s third largest party.
Last summer the party chief launched a passionate defence of open borders claiming: “For hundreds of years, migration has enriched our language, culture and society, and has helped to drive innovation, productivity and economic growth.” He added: “Progressives need to be making the positive case for immigration.”
But Mr Farron’s spokesman hit out last night: “Vince’s views are his own, he is not a Member of Parliament and he does not speak for the party.”
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In a surprising change of heart, Sir Vince that said "'taking back control' starts with immigration control, ending free movement inside the European Union."
Noting the two-tier immigration system which allows Europeans into the UK freely but bars many Indians, Jamaicans and Americans, Sir Vince slammed the "complex and often harsh visa restrictions" that those outside the EU face.
He added that many British Asians resented the "welcome mat laid out for Poles and Romanians".
He added that migration did provide economic gains but that "the benefits accrue mainly to migrants themselves (and business owners).
"For the receiving country, the benefits are less obvious: a bigger economy but not necessarily a richer one," he continued.
The former MP for Twickenham also admitted that there are negative effects of freedom of movement, which depresses wages and reduces job opportunities for Brits.
And in a reach out to Remainers, he said that it was reasonable for people who voted to stay a part of the EU to think that there should be controls on both EU and non-EU migrants.
"That is also where public opinion is," he said.
"Long-term social survey analysis suggests that the demand for effective immigration control coexists with greater tolerance of diversity."