St George Only Welcome In UK Under Ukip As 'Skilled Migrant' Because Of Dragon Slaying Ability
Ukip Lays Down Stricts Terms For St George To Migrate To Britain
PA
|
St George would have been welcomed to Britain because of his skills as a dragon-slayer, Ukip's Patrick O'Flynn has joked.
The party's economic spokesman said he disagreed with the argument that, because St George was from what is now known as Turkey, the national day is irrelevant.
Asked whether he would have been welcomed by a 3rd-century Ukip as a skilled migrant, he replied: "Well, I guess dragon-slaying is a skill but whether it is one that's in short supply for the needs of the British economy, we will leave to our migration commission.
Open Image Modal
Ukip's economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn, pictured above during a party conference in Kent, says St George would have been welcomed to Britain because of his dragon slaying skills
"Whenever the issue of St George's Day comes up - and I can predict this on Twitter today - there will be many left-centre people who will tweet the fact that St George was from what's today known as Turkey as if that is the start, finish of conversation and that makes St George's Day irrelevant or illegitimate or ridiculous.
"I completely disagree ... I'm not particularly hung up on where St George came from. I'm more interested in what St George's Day can represent."
Mr O'Flynn was also asked whether English people should be given priority access to public services over Scottish people who have moved south of the border.
Story continues below
Ukip's Patrick O'Flynn
Michael Howard talks to the press(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
The leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard talks with the Daily Express' political editor Patrick O'Flynn, aboard a flight from Manchester to Edinburgh. Mr Howard - who is holding launch events in England, Scotland and Wales for his party's European election manifesto - will call for "sunset clauses" in all new European regulations so that they automatically expire after a set period. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
Ukip annual conference 2014(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn delivers his speech on the economy during the Ukip annual party conference at Doncaster Race Course in Yorkshire. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Archive)
Ukip Spring Conference - Day 1(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
Patrick O'Flynn, Ukip Economic Spokesman and PPC for Cambridge delivers his speech during the Ukip Spring Conference at the Winter Gardens Theatre in Margate, Kent. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Ukip economic policy announced(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn at Concept Metal Products in Middleton, Lancashire before announcing his party's economic policy for the upcoming General Election. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Ukip economic policy announced(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn (left) and Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall at Concept Metal Products in Middleton, Lancashire before announcing their party's economic policy for the upcoming General Election. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Ukip economic policy announced(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip's (left to right) economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn, Heywood & Middleton parliamentary candidate John Bickley and leader Nigel Farage at Concept Metal Products in Middleton, Lancashire before announcing their party's economic policy for the upcoming General Election. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
General Election 2015 campaign - April 2nd(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip economics spokesman Patrick O'Flynn outside the ITV Studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, before this evening's live leaders' TV debate. (credit:Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
General Election 2015 campaign - April 9th(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip's Patrick O'Flynn at a press briefing in central London where he unveiled his party's policies for women. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
General Election 2015 campaign - April 9th(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ukip's (left to right) Patrick O'Flynn, Deputy Chairman Suzanne Evans and MEP Diane James MEP at a press briefing in central London where they unveiled their party's policies for women. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
HEYWOOD, ENGLAND - MARCH 23: UKIP Economics Spokesman Patrick O'Flynn addresses an invited audience during a visit to Concept Metal Products & Co Ltd on March 23, 2015, Heywood in Manchester, England. Patrick O'Flynn unveiled the party's economic plans to guests and media. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Dave Thompson via Getty Images)
He said: "Ukip believes in the UK. I don't think there is any distinction between the right of someone from Scotland and the right of someone from England to access public services."
On the wider immigration question, he said: "Our approach to immigration begins with the priority of what's good for Britain and the British people."
The nation's first priority, he stressed, is to look after the British people.