Conservative MP disowns leaflet in immigration row

From today’s Observer comes news of splits within the Conservative Party on immigration following the distribution of a highly controversial leaflet:

David Cameron’s Tories were accused last night of dog-whistle politics after the Conservative leader appeared on the front of flyers saying the floodgates had been opened to mass immigration. Critics say the flyers are alarmist and misleading because they imply limits could be imposed on entrants from EU countries such as Poland.

Last night, the party’s frontbench was forced to distance itself from the hard-hitting material, which was put out under the name of Cameron’s home affairs spokesman, Andrew Rosindell [in his Romford constituency]…

The Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesman, Chris Huhne, said: “These flyers play to people’s worst fears in an alarmist and inflammatory manner. The local Conservatives should be ashamed of themselves and I hope the national party will disassociate itself from this.”…

Rosindell said last night: “I did not write or approve this councillors’ flyer. Immigration is an important issue but, as David Cameron has made clear, we must be careful with both the facts and the language we use. This flyer falls short on both counts, and I shall be pointing that out to the councillors.” However, the material stated that it was “promoted” by the MP.

It’s not exactly the first time a Conservative had flirted with even more hardline views on immigration than their own party’s hostile stance.