Quarter of Poles leave for home

IMMIGRATION Minister Phil Woolas has completed his first week in his new job vowing to get tough on immigration.

Oldham East MP Phil Woolas, previously the climate-change minister, revealed that an estimated 100,000 Polish workers have left Britain and returned home

The figure would mean almost a quarter of the 450,000 Poles living in Britain are choosing to go back to their native country.

Mr Woolas said: “It would appear an estimated 100,000 Polish workers left over the past year.

“Businesses need skilled workers to help them grow. But we have to balance needs of the economy with managing population growth.

“Poland’s economy is expanding so I am not surprised they are going home. My job in Whitehall is to limit immigration, so this has helped.”

Freedom of movement within the European Union means there are no exact numbers for EU citizens in the UK, apart from those who have applied for a national insurance number to work.

An anti-Europe party has condemned plans to enforce the use of the European Union flag and anthem (Janice Barker writes).

UK Independence party member John Whittaker, from Oldham, also says the call for a Europe Day is “rubbing our noses in it.”

The European Parliament has passed legislation making the EU flag and its motto (United in Diversity) compulsory at all parliamentary sittings.

The anthem, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” must be played for visits of heads of state and government.

At the same time, EU countries were strongly urged to make Europe Day (May 9) a public holiday, with local councils and other public buildings expected to fly the blue and gold EU flag.

The resolution was supported by all the UK’s Labour and Lib-Dem Euro-MPs and two Conservatives. Only UKIP was solidly in opposition.

Dr Whittaker said: “We don’t even officially celebrate St George’s Day in England, yet now they want us to stop work on May 9 to celebrate the EU.

“It’s all part of the misguided agenda to make us love the European Union.”