Phil Woolas, the minister for immigration, caused massive outrage earlier this week when he stated that British troops stationed in Afghansitan were helping to control immigration.

The campaign in Afghanistan has been designed to help the crippled country build a democracy and to counter terrorism insist ministers who have reacted strongly to Woolas’ claims. Woolas had claimed that if British soldiers were to withdraw then the Taliban would take control of Afghanistan which would lead to an influx of asylum seekers to the EU and in particular the UK. Woolas also claimed that he felt his argument – that Armed Forces were controlling immigration – was not given enough public attention.

Home Affairs Select Commitee members voiced they’re fury at Woolas’ comments, with Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, calling the comments crass at a time when many British soldiers had lost their lives. Liberal Democarts called the claims disrespectful and tasteless.

On the same day that Woolas made his controversial claims, 5 British troops were killed in the fighting. Green said that it was well known that the Labour government had made a mess of immigration and Woolas had proven once again that the Home Office has little idea about true border control. The government has been accused of not having a clear objective or strategy in the conflict and calls have been made to withdraw troops from the fighting abroad to focus on maintaining border control at home.

However, the UK was inextricably tied to the Afghanistan conflict according to Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary.

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