The government is also considering extending the restrictions to low skilled workers, such as agricultural labour, even though they cannot settle permanently in Britain.

The irony is that due to poor educational standards in Britain today, 5 million people cannot read! In the 16-24 years age group, 25 per cent fail even a basic test in English.

In what will possibly be one of the most protracted election campaigns, with Labour and Tories competing for the centre and Right of British politics, attacks on the rights of ethnic minorities can only get worse. The Left in Britain is fragmented and will need to reorganise and focus on defending the rights of all workers, regardless of race, sex or creed.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “In the end, we don’t have to remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends”.

The writer is national general secretary, Indian Workers’ Association,UK