Lib Dems Expose May's Muddle as Tory Hopeful for SW Herts Fails to Explain what they have in Mind on Immigration
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Christopher Townsend responded to the incoherence of the Conservatives' position on immigration.
During BBC Radio 4's Any Questions on May 20th, David Gauke, the Conservative candidate, struggled to provide clear answers when facing questions on his party's immigration policy.
Gauke floundered badly when responding to questioning on the Conservatives' implausible tens of thousands immigration target.
He stated:
"It is an aim, it doesn't have a timetable. We accept that."
In response to Gauke's comments, Christopher Townsend, the Lib Dem candidate for South West Herts said:
"The Conservatives are really tying themselves in knots. They are giving us their target for immigration, but not giving us any timetable."
"So much for "strong and stable" - "wrong and wobbly", more like!"
"This is yet another Conservative pledge that they will inevitably break. You cannot have a successful economy if you restrict immigration that much. It seems like the Conservatives are intent on harming our economy, first with a Hard Brexit that will yank us out of the Single Market and cost jobs, and now this!"
"Liberal Democrat immigration policies, unlike those of the Conservatives, do not rely on unachievable political gimmicks."
"The Lib Dem manifesto sets out a clear vision for a fairer and more efficient immigration system with strict control of borders, an annual debate in Parliament to establish immigration need and a new central fund to ease integration."
Fellow panellist and Lib Dem member Rachel Johnson also made light of Gauke's position:
"It's like saying 'I've got this target weight. It's ten stone.
I may not ever reach my target weight.. but, hey, it's still my target... Right?'"