7 in 10 worry over level of immigration
TV stars blasted for using little donkey to pull cart
SEVEN out of 10 people are worried over the effect of immigration on Britain’s population, a poll reveals.
Some 68% of 1,519 quizzed feel “some” or “great” concern, Migration Watch UK found.
The UK’s population is currently about 67 million and is predicted to reach 70 million by 2031.
Annual net migration – the difference between people leaving and arriving – was 212,000 last year.
Migration Watch UK chairman Alp Mehmet said: “The only way to deal with this unsustainable growth is a significant reduction in immigration.”
A separate poll showed 51% oppose an amnesty for illegal immigrants.
GORDON Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix have been dubbed “idiots” for making a little donkey pull them along on a cart.
Animal rights campaigners claim the animal was clearly struggling with their weight in ITV show Gordon, Gino and Fred: Christmas Road Trip.
Audrey Gaffney, of The Ethical Bucket List, has complained directly to ITV.
She said: “It is clearly unacceptable for a small animal like this to pull four adult men on a cart. It’s quite disconcerting that no one involved questioned this.
“Again ITV have failed to undertake adequate research of this extremely important issue, and as is usually the case the animal will suffer. This is unacceptable from the UK’s leading commercial broadcaster.”
The incident occurred when the men’s van supposedly broke down in Morocco.
Ms Gaffney said donkeys in such countries are often denied shade and water in searing temperatures.
She added they “can also be overloaded with passengers or carts with poor quality fitting saddles and harnesses, that cause cuts and injuries”.
Brooke, a charity that improves the lives of working donkeys around the world, said: “We spend a lot of time telling people that it isn’t OK, and then you have three pretty influential men doing it.
“It’s easy for people watching to think they can do it too when they go on holiday. They
The TV trio in Morocco during filming
Donkey pulls driver on cart with Gino, Fred and Gordon
would’ve had a crew who have vehicles so it’s totally unnecessary. At one point Gordon says he can walk faster, which begs the question, ‘why don’t you then?’”
Animal rights campaigner and TV presenter Jan Leeming branded the trio
“idiots”. She added: “Didn’t it cross their minds that the load was too great for the poor little creature?”
ITV has come under fire before for failing to address animal cruelty concerns in their programmes.
Bosses refused to apologise after Martin Clunes clambered up an elephant’s trunk in My Travels and Other Animals.
They were also criticised for Trevor McDonald’s Indian Train Adventure when he visited an elephant sanctuary that let tourists climb on them.
An ITV spokesman said of the latest controversy: “Our production team worked to ensure animal welfare ahead of and throughout filming.”