20 ways to make Britain better 4. ‘firm on immigration and firm on discrimination’

“I am not racist, but.” When someone says this in conversation for about half the population it translates as ‘racist.’ “I love this multicultural country, but.” For the other half of the country this translates as ‘out of touch elitist zealot.’

On immigration it often seems as if we are two nations divided by a language. In fact, immigration and beliefs about identity have the power to divide more than any other political issues.  They are gut concerns that statistics cannot penetrate.

As a party founded on a narrow platform of European Union withdrawal, and a desire to limit immigration Ukip cannot but divide. It is not a racist party, but.

However, Labour’s response to Ukip and, more importantly, to the anxieties it represents has, until this week at least, been ill conceived. We have given the impression that we love our multi-cultural country, but.

Being surprised that some ethnic minority voters support Ukip portrays our ignorance. Calling Ukip racist only gives them strength. Attacking their voters makes us weaker. It is perfectly credible to challenge Ukip’s flat tax and flat earth economic policies but the attack will only be heard if the messenger is credible, and for Labour this means addressing immigration in the right way.

Labour believes it has been doing this, but.

There are three principal reasons why Labour is not winning the argument. The first is the obvious one that once your reputation is sullied in the eyes of the electorate it takes one hell of a lot of convincing to change perceptions.

The second is that Immigration is not a pocket book issue. It is, as Bill Shankly might have put it, much more important than that. The thrust of the argument that Ed Miliband has proffered on immigration has been through the prism of the labour market. This will only get Labour so far. Cultural affinity with the disaffected voters who are flocking to Ukip, is what is lacking.

The third, and perhaps the most potent reason, is that Labour is fighting a stale battle that is has fought since the 1960s. The far right of old, whether the National Front, BNP, or whatever guise it has presented itself in, made a deliberate point of conflating immigration and race. Of course, the collapse of the far right means that there are plenty of Ukip supporter who do likewise but Labour should be clear with itself and the electorate that the two subjects are separate and distinct.

That so many young black men are locked out of the labour market is a disgrace, but it is entirely a failure of domestic policy and nothing to do with our approach to immigration. There are countless examples of similar domestic policy failings. But how many people you believe should be let in the country does not determine whether or not you are a racist. The wider electorate has moved on, so should Labour.

Fundamentally, Labour Party support has always been based on a coalition between socially conservative and social liberal voters.  Both want greater economic equality but beyond this socially liberal voters emphasise rights and diversity whereas socially conservative voters want security, stability and a sense that they belong.  The belonging crisis is much more important than the cost of living one. We are an ethnically diverse nation but one that longs to know what binds us together. As a Party we should move on from a belief in promoting diversity to one in which we emphasise solidarity and reciprocity. Tolerance of difference comes naturally when we first understand our common humanity. A campaign based on hope will not resonate unless there is reassurance first.

In his speech on Tuesday there were signs that Ed Miliband gets this. His umbrella one nation theme is the right prism through which to address immigration.

And instead of heeding Tony Blair’s advice on this subject he should take a leaf out of his book. In the early 1990s a fresh faced Tony Blair, newly promoted to the post of shadow home secretary, decided he had to shift Labour’s stance on law and order. His mantra ‘tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’ encapsulated his new approach. After this he never looked back.

So Ed Miliband should learn from a political master and declare that he will be ‘firm on immigration and firm on discrimination.’  He should build bridges instead of walls.