Woolas has caused more chaos in less time than any other Immigration Minister - Huhne

4.10.08pm GMT Thu 23rd Oct 2008

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP today (Thursday 23rd October 2008) took aim at Oldham MP Phil Woolas accusing him of creating more chaos in less time than any previous Immigration minister.

Chris Huhne said "Phil Woolas has made an extraordinarily cack-handed start as Immigration Minister. He has only been in the position for a fortnight but he has already managed to cause more chaos in less time than any of his predecessors.

"On Saturday, Mr Woolas was in favour of immigration limits, but on Sunday he was not. On Monday, he was back to limits, and on Tuesday he was not. Mr Woolas has taken up more positions on immigration than someone in training with the Kama Sutra" said Mr Huhne.

"As a Labour Government Minister Phil Woolas has been laying into Labour Government policies on the funding of the asylum process, managing immigration and border controls rather than setting out clear plans to improve these Government activities - which is what he is paid to produce.

"He has created wholesale confusion by promising things that he has later had to admit that he can't deliver, such as a population cap and an absolute balance between people coming and people going out of Britain.

"And to top it all he has interfered in a major way over the establishment of the Church of England, only to be slapped down by his own Government because he has no responsibility for these issues as a Minister.

"Gordon Brown needs to step in and end this shambles by asking Phil Woolas whether someone who points in all directions is capable of giving firm leadership to a broken part of government.

"The people of Britain want action to tackle what has been truly epic mismanagement of our immigration and asylum systems under this Labour Government.

"What they definitely don't want is to pay a handsome Ministerial salary to Phil Woolas for low bar-room banter and opinions on everything under the sun.

Unless Gordon Brown gets a grip, Phil Woolas will only continue to create further mayhem and disarray on top of an already chaotic Government immigration and asylum policy."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP will this afternoon join the campaign against a Titan Jail on the Omega Business Parkin Warrington with Jo Crotty, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South. Chris Huhne will then meet youngsters from Manchester's ground-breaking RECLAIM scheme which works with teenagers to reclaim their communities from gangs and violence.