Labour MPs have just voted themselves another 12 days away from the Chamber.  And yes, it was only Labour MPs who voted for it (see here), including our own Eltham MP.  Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted against it - preferring to hold the government to account and try to restore some trust in our broken political system.

At a time when we're still mired in recession and unemployment has climbed yet again in London, can they really justify another 12 days away from Parliament?  

Sky News is reporting that 'celebrity mum' Myleene Klass was warned she could have committed a crime after she scared off intruders at her home when she waved a knife at them.  She said she saw the intruders when they peered through her window when she was in her kitchen, with her daughter upstairs.  She grabbed a knife and banged on the window before they ran away.  Apparently, police told her it is illegal to carry an offensive weapon, even in her own home.  What utter tosh.

Firstly, I believe she did absolutely the right thing.  No doubt she acted spontaneously and her immediate concern was to protect herself and her child.  Secondly, in my view, if anyone chooses to intrude into private property they risk the occupant taking appropriate action to defend it and the people on site.  I very much doubt that, even if there had been a full scale break-in, she would have used the knife.  Thirdly, I would have had little sympathy with the intruders if she had.

We have got to start getting a grip on law and order.  People need to take responsibility for their actions.  That means that if they choose to break the law by breaking into a person's home, whether the intention is to steal to fund a drug habit or to attack an occupant, they should not be surprised if they end up being harmed.  In my view, the criminal is the person who invades private property, not the person enjoying the place they call home.  Let's put a stop to this stupid nonsense.

On their recent visits to Eltham, both the Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Immigration Minister promised that a Conservative government would tighten border controls and limit immigration to the UK.   Conservative proposals would include a massive reform of the visa system that has, up to now, allowed so many bogus students to enter the UK.

The measures include:

1. Only the top universities will be able to fast track students through the immigration system.
2. Most foreign students will be expected to deposit a £1,000 to £6,000 bond that will only be repaid after the student has finished their studies and left the country. Forfeited bond payments will be used to help pay for deportations.
3. Student migrants will have to return to their home countries and make a new visa application if they want to switch courses or move to a work permit visa.
4. There will be a clampdown on foreign students using the existence of UK bank accounts to borrow large amounts of money.  There will be clearer requirements for applicants for a student visa to demonstrate ability to fund their studies.
5. UK citizens associated with bogus colleges will be registered and tracked. 1,925 organisations have been approved by the UK Border Agency to sponsor migrant students but there are only 165 universities and Higher Education colleges in the United Kingdom.
6. Greater enforcement of existing rules by the Border Police Force including more unannounced raids on colleges suspected to be bogus. There will also be closer inspection of applications from very sensitive countries. An extraordinary 13,000 visa applications from Afgahinistan and Pakistan have not been fraud-checked since October 2008, according to Tory research.

The Shadow Home Secretary has made the following statement:

"The student visa system is a huge loophole in our border controls, and despite years of promises the Government has completely failed to deal with the problem. This loophole has not only allowed large numbers of people to enter the country who would not have been able to do so otherwise, but is now a genuine security risk for us. In the current climate we cannot possibly go on like this. Our proposals will transform the system, making it much more difficult for those who want to abuse it, whilst encouraging genuine students to come to our colleges and universities."

I support these measures and others that have already been announced to stop the open door policy operating under the current government.  We cannot go on like this.  Under the Conservatives, we will not.

UPDATE: On Sunday, David Cameron pledged to cut immigration to the UK from 100,000s to 10,000s.  I am sure this announcement will be welcomed by residents across the Eltham constituency - and the rest of the country.