socialmedian: British soldiers in Afghanistan helping to curb UK asylum seekers, claims minister

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British soldiers in Afghanistan helping to curb UK asylum seekers, claims minister

Source: guardian.co.uk Politics

Nov 04, 2009

Summary

Tories accuse Phil Woolas of 'crass' remarks

A government minister was today accused of being "crass" after he claimed British troops were in Afghanistan to stop asylum seekers fleeing to the UK, hours after five more troops were killed.

The immigration minister, Phil Woolas, made the remarks while giving evidence to MPs on the Commons home affairs committee.

"If this country and others were to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban were able to take control of Afghanistan our evidence is that the number of asylum seekers coming to the EU would significantly increase," Woolas told the committee.

"An argument that is not aired strongly enough in my view is the benefit of the presence of our armed forces and other countries' is to help us control immigration."

The government has tried to halt public disaffection with the war by saying it is aimed at stopping the Taliban regaining power, rebuilding Afghanistan and stopping it becoming a base for al-Qaida-inspired terrorist attacks against Britain and the west.

Woolas's remarks were seized on by the opp

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