Apprentice star Karren: Welcome to Britain... IF you speak English
APPRENTICE star Karren Brady last night stepped into the immigration row by telling people coming to Britain that they are welcome – as long as they can speak English.
The Government’s small business tsar and Tory peer says she has no problem with immigrants starting a new life in the UK if they are prepared to pay their way and fit in.
Baroness Brady, 46, said: ‘If you want to come, pay your taxes, make a contribution, speak the language and improve society, then you are very welcome. The line is difficult when people get worried about economic migrants or those who don’t contribute or don’t fit into a cohesive society.’
Her comments came just days after Home Secretary Theresa May’s speech at the Tory conference when she warned mass immigration was a threat to national cohesion.
Mrs May’s remarks divided opinion and were criticised by business leaders, who insisted that immigrants do boost the economy.
Brady, who also vice-chairman of West Ham United, said she thought that the entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well in Britain: ‘You have more women in work than ever before, more young people getting into work, more apprenticeships, more support around business.
‘We are a great nation of entrepreneurs and that is something we should celebrate.’ The businesswoman – who is expected to be named tomorrow as one of the supporters of the campaign to keep Britain in the EU – will be back on our screens on Wednesday for the new series of The Apprentice. She has been a regular on the BBC show since 2010 and will once more act as the eyes and ears of Lord Sugar, keeping an eye on the efforts of the 18 contestants.
She revealed she had decided not to use her title on the show to avoid embarrassing fellow adviser Claude Littner, a long-standing business associate of Lord Sugar.
She joked: ‘It wouldn’t be fair on Claude. You have got a Lord, a Baroness and then there’s Claude. Because I am more with the candidates than in the boardroom it’s more difficult to keep referring to the title.’
The mother of two also said she has no interest in taking over from Lord Sugar should he ever decide to stand down. ‘I will not be heading the show. When Alan decides he is too tired I’ll be too tired.’
She revealed she had turned down the chance to appear on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and I’m A Celebrity: ‘My answer is always no. I am on The Apprentice because I want to be, not because I need to be.’