LONDON, June 24 (UPI) -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he stands by his policy that allowed European immigrants to relocate in the United Kingdom.
"In some ways, I don't regret it actually because I think the Polish community and other communities from Eastern Europe actually do good work in our country," Blair said in an interview with the BBC. "I mean, I'm happy with them."
While acknowledging there is "sensitivity" about the immigration issue, Blair, a member of the Labor Party, said, "I think most sensible people in Britain can see immigrants have made a great contribution to our country."
Blair's comments came after Labor Party leader Ed Miliband called the relaxation of immigration controls in 2004 a "mistake" that has helped erode living standards in the working class, The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday.
Britain has become home to more than 700,000 Eastern Europeans in the past decade.
