Hard to believe but it is 40 years since Enoch Powell delivered his notorious "rivers of blood" speech about immigration.
On 20 April 1968, the Tory minister warned of disastrous social consequences if immigration levels were not reduced, speaking of 'rivers of blood' flowing through the country.
Now 40 years on equalities chief Trevor Phillips gave his own speech in the very Birmingham hotel in which Powell spoke all those years ago. His message was basically that there were no rivers but "a tide of managed immigration and active integration".
There can be no doubt that immigration has brought economic benefits to the UK and employers welcome the ready supply of labour. But the wider social impacts and strain on public services should not be ignored.
Hospitals struggling with foreign patients, police forces paying more for translation services, local councils with growing waiting lists for housing are just a few examples where the rising number of immigrants is putting pressure on society.
But conversely, as Phillips points out, there would be no NHS without foreign doctors, nurses, cleaners and administrators. We also know that there will be no Crossrail in London, and no Olympics without immigrant carpenters, electricians and bricklayers.
But even Phillips picks up on potential flashpoints in the future; continued exploitation of low-paid immigrants by rogue employers; home-grown workers' wages depressed because of migration; creaking transport infrastructure; employers not investing in training and skills for British workers because they can get the readymade package from abroad.
All massive issues and as yet we have no real idea what the long-term consequences might be.
Any thoughts on where this is all leading?
