The government is perpetrating a deceit on the British public over plans for extending visa-free travel to the UK for Turkish nationals, formar minister Iain Duncan Smith has said.
Duncan Smith’s comments come after documents revealed that a British diplomat suggested that visa-travel for some Turkish nationals should be extended to the UK.
These documents show that the Government and the European Commission are perpetrating an enormous deceit on the British public saying one thing in public, but quite another in private, Duncan Smith said.
They say nothing is happening about Turkey, but this shows they are already making official plans to allow visa free access for Turkish citizens. The attempt to hide this, and to delay key decision until after the referendum, is cynical in the extreme.
However, minister Philip Hammond and Theresa May said that the Government’s policy is to maintain current visa requirements.
The foreign secretary and home secretary said: The government’s policy is, and will remain, to maintain current visa requirements for all Turkish nationals wishing to visit the UK, regardless of what arrangements other member states in the Schengen area may make with Turkey.
Meanwhile, immigration minister James Brokenshire also said:David Cameron is in complete agreement with the leaders of the leave campaign who have admitted Turkey joining the EU isn’t remotely on the cards.
Damaging the economy by quitting Europe is not the answer to the complex issue of immigration.
Migration which say the Leave campaign’s policy won’t work-it could actually increase immigration.
Rayhan Ahmed Topader
London, UK
[email protected]
