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Boris: expulsions too expensive

Updated on 21 November 2008

By Cathy Newman

London Mayor Boris Johnson breaks with Tory party policy by suggesting an amnesty for illegal immigrants in Britain.

Despite an election campaign littered with politically incorrect references about race.

Johnson has told Channel 4 News that he believes it's just too expensive to remove them.

"A mass programme of expulsions... hasn't worked: it's legally incredibly difficult, (and) it's expensive for the state.

"What I want is to lead a debate about how sensibly to deal with the 400, 000 people who are living here (London) and working here illegally," he said.

The comments put him directly at odds with Conservative leader David Cameron.

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