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British MPs Say the UK Should Let In More Immigrant Chefs for Better Curry

Several British members of Parliament are saying that the decision of which immigrants to allow into Britain—and whether Britain should stay in the EU at all—should come down to curry.
Photo via Flickr user Su-Lin

Immigration is pretty much the hot-button topic in politics worldwide. There are so many important issues to consider as thousands of persecuted and downtrodden people are struggling every day to get past borders and into (relatively) economically stable democracies such as the US and the European Union. Politicians in these countries have much to grapple with: who will they let in, how many will they let in, and why? It's a formidable problem to say the least.

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READ: Britain Is Running Out of Indian Chefs

And now, in what seems like a takeoff on a Monty Python sketch but unfortunately isn't, several British members of Parliament are saying that the determination of which immigrants to allow into Britain—and indeed whether Britain should stay in the European Union at all—should come down to curry.

Specifically, curry-cooking ability.

Yes, Paul Scully, a Tory MP from a place called Sutton and Cheam says that Britain should seriously consider quitting the EU and allowing in more immigrants from South Asia because this would improve the curry served in British restaurants.

(You know, there is something about a British accent that makes anything sound, well, more intelligent. But this? Maybe not so much.)

Scully argues that because Britain is part of the EU and must allow EU migrants to freely work in the nation—thereby limiting the number of immigrants from other countries—the quality of curry in the nation has become seriously impaired. He and other members of British parliament believe that an exit from the EU could improve the Indian food in British restaurants by allowing more chefs from Asia into the country.

Apparently this is Diabetes Duck (no, me neither) at Curry Life awards. pic.twitter.com/PxPIPNpJHK

— Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) October 11, 2015

Scully is, according to The Evening Standard, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on the curry catering industry. (This story gets stranger at every turn—there's a parliamentary group on the curry catering industry? There is a curry catering industry in England? Yes to both, it seems.) He says the industry is "struggling" because of a deficit of curry chefs.

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Great to meet host of Curry Life Awards, ITN's Nina Hossain, a prominent British Bangladeshi. pic.twitter.com/t6iPjNA9CV — Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) October 12, 2015

Since entering the EU, Britain has made migrating into the country more difficult for immigrants from non-EU countries, and Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to cut migration by tens of thousands each year. Scully is calling foul: "Leaving the EU would give us more flexibility to control our borders and tackle some of the unintended consequences of immigration from outside the EU." By "unintended consequences" he seems to mean "bad curry." Scully evidently likes his curry, a lot. His plan could accomplish much: "Things such as the curry industry—bringing curry chefs over—might benefit."

Colourful, energetic start to Curry Life awards in London. pic.twitter.com/do83dCBdeg — Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) October 11, 2015

Anne Main, a Conservative MP, totes agrees wholeheartedly with Scully: "It seems rather perverse that a poor Polish immigrant can walk into this country and take up any vacancy they find in any industry, including the hospitality industry or a curry restaurant, even though they might not have the relevant skills, while a poor, skilled Bangladeshi chef is not able to do that because the bar is set so high." Main pointed out that Chinese food in Britain might benefit too. Well, then.

Steve McCabe, a member of parliament from the Labor Party who represents St. Albans, is having none of this: "If we cannot train people as balti chefs and curry chefs in this day and age, there is something badly wrong with our skills training in this country."

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READ: This White Guy Says He Was Discriminated Against for Ordering Mild Curry

The right honorable gentleman from St. Albans may have a point, although learning to cook curry at your mother's (or father's) apron strings might give you the upper hand.

Hmmmm. Will a "Brexit"—that's a British exit from the European Union—be firestarted by the deep need for truly authentic curry?

Who knows? In the meantime, migrants are suffocating in trucks near Hungary. Children have died in the attempt to cross borders.

But the members of Parliament want to ensure that their curry is adequately scrumptious. Stay tuned.