Immigration - why politicians don't get it.

John McTernan in the Scotsman seems to understand:

By and large, the British middle classes – including politicians – see immigration as a race issue. British working people – white, black, Turkish, Asian – experience it as a fairness issue, because it hits them as a contest for resources, whether jobs, wages or public housing. Politicians think workers have racist views on immigration – so don't discuss it. Workers know their concerns are about fairness, but feel politicians brand them racist.

Pity he couldn't explain that to his leader before "bigotgate"...