UKIP MEP: Britain should ban migrants with ‘highly dangerous diseases’ like HIV
A UKIP MEP has repeated sentiments by his party leader that migrants with HIV should not be allowed into the UK, but went further to say the virus is “highly dangerous”.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Westminster Hour yesterday, Gerard Batten, a UKIP MEP for London, was asked about party leader Nigel Farage, who was last week heavily criticised after he said he would limit entry to the UK to: “People who do not have HIV, to be frank. That’s a good start. And people with a skill.”
Echoing the statement made by Mr Farage, and saying there should be a points system for migrants, Mr Batten went further to ask: “Which other country in the world, if you can tell me one, would have a system or an immigration policy where people with highly dangerous communicable diseases are allowed into the country?
“I think if people have got highly contagious, dangerous diseases, of course you would expect them to declare that, or to be screened if they are a migrant. Why would you let someone in if they have such a dangerous disease. I think you should look at the immigration policy of other countries around the world, and I think most countries already have that rule.”
Amendment NC21 of the Immigration Bill, which intended to restrict people living with HIV or Hepatitis B from entering the UK was introduced in January by Dr Phillip Lee, the Conservative MP for Bracknell who is also a former doctor.
It had the support of several other Tory MPs, but was slammed by others, including Margot James, who tweeted: “The Government couldn’t and wouldn’t ban immigrants on HIV status. The UK Government has signed up to the UN declaration against such discrimination.”
