Migrant workers and Andrew George MP

Andrew George MP has replied to The St Ivean's
recent post, So, where are all the progressives?

He comments:
"What I am able to say is that I was one of those MPs who was instrumental in setting up the Gangmaster Licensing Authority, have taken up and supported many cases on behalf of migrants and migrant workers, and importantly, respect my duty to protect the confidentiality of the individuals who bring casework to me."

What is puzzling about this statement is its implication that because one has a duty to respect confidentiality in individual cases, it's therefore impossible to engage in public debates about the general issues raised by those individual cases. But Mr George cannot possibly mean that because it's obvious nonsense. So what does he mean?

Of course, one must respect confidentiality. The St Ivean, too, does not make use of information obtained under conditions of confidentiality.

But public debate of the issues is also essential.

If The St Ivean had not challenged Penwith over the eviction of migrant workers, the Council would not have been challenged at all. (Except, perhaps, for the reported comment of a witness to the eviction who Mr Allan Hampshire contrived, in his letter to the Cornishman newspaper of March 13, to airbrush from the scene).

The St Ivean welcomes and applauds any work Mr George has done on behalf of migrant workers and their families. But Penwith has still to answer key questions about the eviction of Polish migrant workers in Penzance. The St Ivean believes that our MP should be urging the Council to answer those questions - and there are good reasons why he should be doing it publicly.