'Self-indulgent lefties': Former Dudley Labour MP takes swipe at Stourbridge MP over her criticism of migrant plan
A former Black Country Labour MP has praised the Government's plan to tackle small-boat channel crossings, and took a swipe at 'self-indulgent lefties' within the party who were opposing them.
Ian Austin, former MP for Dudley North, warned that his old party would be 'out of power for good' if it did not back Home Secretary Shbana Mahmood's plan to tackle the asylum 'racket'.
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Lord Austin took at aim at Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles after she criticised the Government's plans on Times Radio.
Writing in The Sun, Lord Austin said: "Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles accused the Government of trying to 'appease the electorate'. Whatever next?"
Lord Austin also urged Labour MPs to get behind his former colleague in Wolverhampton North East, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, in his efforts to get to grips with the 'ballooning welfare bill'.
Lord Austin quit the Labour Party in 2019, and then sensationally endorsed the Conservatives saying Jeremy Corbyn was unfit to be Prime Minister. He now sits as an independent peer.
He praised 'staight-talking' Miss Mahmood for 'cracking down on illegal working, and endless case delays and appeals'.
He said the duty to house and fund asylum seekers would be scrapped.
"Most people will think that is all just common sense," he said.
"But self-indulgent lefties — predictably joined by hand-wringing Liberal Democrats and Greens - have lined up to parade their virtue and condemn the plans out of hand.
"As Ms Mahmood pointed out, the people she represents in overwhelmingly non-white inner-city Birmingham are as angry as anyone about uncontrolled immigration."
Lord Austin also criticised the Conservatives for allowing 2.5million people settle in the UK 'while public services are creaking' and there was already a housing shortage.
"It’s about time someone told it like it is on asylum, but the Government needs to deal with other aspects of immigration as well," he said.
"People who do come here must be required to uphold our values and believe in democracy, freedom, fairness and tolerance — and learn English.
"Otherwise, you shouldn’t be allowed to come here at all. We’ve got enough extremists and people spouting hatred, thanks very much."
Lord Austin praised Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden for his efforts to get economically inactive young people back to work.
"A million young people are out of work and not in education or training," he wrote.
"They’ll spend the rest of their lives out of work without some help.
"But there haven’t been enough apprenticeships for decades — and the number halved after Covid.
"At the same time, visa rules are relaxed to bring in roofers, brickies, carpenters and care workers — not to mention nurses and other NHS workers.
"Why aren’t we speeding up training for our own youngsters to do those jobs? MPs should be furious about that. They should be talking about it every day.
"One person who does get it is Pat McFadden. His number one priority is to ensure young people get training and apprenticeships so they can spend their lives in work instead of on the dole."
He said Mr McFadden was drawing up plans to help the unemployed into work, and would cut their benefits if they refused.
"He represents a seat in the Black Country, just down the road from the Home Secretary’s patch in Brum," said Lord Austin.
"They know what ordinary people think — that’s why they understand the fury at uncontrolled immigration and ballooning benefits.
"And if Labour MPs don’t like these plans, just wait and see what Nigel Farage and Reform do."
