PANO: Brexit worry – migrants & inter-community friction; call for Ministry for Migrant Communities

PANO Lecture: Tuesday 5th July at 6.15pm in POSK, Polish Centre 238 King Street, London W6 0RF

Dr Marek Laskiewicz is a Member of the Council for POSK (the Polish Centre in Hammersmith) and stood for election as Chairman last year.  He is also Head of the PWWB, the Polish Association in Great Britain, and in this capacity he is giving this lecture.  He was born and educated in England, Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Elstree, and Queen Mary College, University of London. 

He sent out two days ago a letter for publication warning that the first actions against the Poles were likely to be only the start – as has actually sadly happened.  He will be giving a lecture at POSK as usual on Tuesday the 5th of July about Brexit consequences for communities, to which you are invited (please email marek.laskiewicz@pwwb.co.uk if you will be coming).  It will call for a Ministry or at least a Department for Migrant Communities within the Ministry of Communities to be considered and ideally established, because there are so many migrants and communities here, all important for the UK economy, because they are now feel uncertain, to a degree even in danger, and because this will help resolve any inter-community issues, so avoiding possible strife.

 

Lecture summary

Some people who came here from Eastern Europe and indeed Western Europe with their valuable skills are now worried about their future; indeed a few feel threatened, witness Count Zylinski recently submitted a letter demanding that no migrants be deported.  The PM as well as Theresa May and as importantly the Leave leader Michael Gove, should make clear announcements about their plans concerning migrants.  Otherwise there is the very real prospect of inter-community friction, maybe strife; the recent anti-Polish actions in Huntingdon and POSK (the Polish centre in Hammersmith) are likely to be only the start; for the Leave campaign, especially its success, has unleashed nationalistic forces. So firm action to maintain order must be taken now, lest the problem escalate uncontrollably; in addition this may spread to non-EU citizens, who were in fact historically the normal targets. 

 

This also concerns the huge number of British ex-patriates as what the Leavers may not realise is that if the British do not want migrants, other countries might not then welcome them.  Indeed such friction and any consequent strife may well spread throughout Europe and elsewhere. Indeed this may even adversely affect the UK’s relations including trade with such countries.

 

Such announcements would also help allay the fears of potential inward investors, already disheartened by the UK moving outside the EU tariff zone.  Thus these are also vital for the UK’s economy. 

 

Failure to so, in particular doing and saying nothing, may weaken the UK, and maybe even Europe, though it is alas clear that neither the Government nor Leave has any plan. The migrants’ concerns must be addressed as soon as possible, and order restored; to aid this, a Ministry or at least Departmendt for Migrant Communities should be established.  No inter-communal strife need occur; however if unchecked so the problem takes hold, it cannot then be easily contained.