Boris Johnson Says London Would Fall Like Sparta Without Immigration

London will fall like the Greek city of Sparta if it turns away immigrants like the ancient militaristic regime which "kicked people out", Boris Johnson has said.

David Cameron's pledge to bring down immigration into the tens of thousands was a"policy failure" and should never have been attempted, the Mayor said.

"Look at Athens and Sparta," Johnson told the Telegraph. "Athens was an open city and Sparta kicked people out. Go and look at the ruins of Athens and Sparta now and ask which of the two cities made the greatest contribution to civilisation. Look at the greatness of the American economy."

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London needs immigration or it will fall like the ancient Greek city, says the Mayor

The government appears to have admitted defeat on the Tory pledge to bring annual net immigration below 100,000 by the general election.

Official figures showed net migration - the number coming to the UK for at least a year, minus the numbers leaving - rose 58,000 to 212,000 in the year to September 2013.

Cameron has rejected calls to drop the target, arguing it is still "achievable" but refusing to offer a "cast iron guarantee". Home Secretary Theresa May has conceded it has become "more difficult".

"There was a policy failure of politicians, saying they wanted to control immigration which they couldn't do because of free movement," Johnson said, speaking at Investment 2020, which encourages companies to hire young people from non-financial backgrounds. "I'm one of the politicians willing to stand up for immigration."

But johnson said that efforts to celebrate and promote multiculturalism had meant many migrant communities had not felt the need to integrate. "I wan t to see people proud of Britain, we have to insist on that. We went through a long period of cultural laissez-faire, where we didn;t understand that they want to speak English."

Sparta was one of the most powerful Greek city-states, famous for its military mastery, the home of the best and most feared fighters in Greece. From the age of seven, male citizens served in the military and lived in barracks, with disabled children or those perceived to be weak killed shortly after birth.

Foreigners did live in Sparta, but were routinely forcibly expelled by their hosts.

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Boris Johnson's Funniest Moments

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Boris Johnson (centre) takes part in a celebrity tennis match in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital at The Queen's Club, London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson gives a speech during a visit to Lloyd's of London as part of his engagement with the City, London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson launches his 2020 Vision for London at City Hall, London.
London mayor Boris Johnson before the NFL International Series match at Wembley Stadium, London.
Boris Johnson (centre) takes part in a celebrity tennis match in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital at The Queen's Club, London.
Will Smith (right) at City Hall in London join London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, to celebrate the achievements of the Mayor's Leadership Clubs that were launched in schools across the capital earlier this year.
EDITORIAL USE ONLYMayor of London Boris Johnson makes a Gu chocolate souffle with head chef Fred Ponnavoy in the Gu development kitchen, in Walthamstow, to celebrate the London-based premium dessert companys 10th birthday.
London Mayor Boris Johnson takes a 'Big Hit' for London from RLWC2013 ambassador Martin Offiah during a photocall at Tower Bridge, London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson poses with a protester dressed as a rabbit at a rally in Barnes, London, against the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson meets workers at one of Raymond Blanc's Brasserie Blanc restaurants in the City of London where he urged the capital's food and hospitality firms to take on more young people as apprentices.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson at Crossrail Tunnelling Academy in Ilford Essex, where he met apprentices.
London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives to join Metropoiltan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and members of the Dalston Safer Neighbourhood scheme in Hackney, east London on their local beat where they launched the Mayor's Police and Crime Plan.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson with actor Matt Cross (left) and Dawson James as he visits The Imaginarium at Ealing Studios in West London, where he took part in a Performance Capture session.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson joins chef Raymond Blanc at one of his Brasserie Blanc restaurants in the City of London where he urged the capital's food and hospitality firms to take on more young people as apprentices.
Boris Johnson MP takes a break from the Tory Party Conference in Bournemouth. 13/11/2004 Boris Johnson who was Saturday November 13 2004, sacked from the Conservative frontbench amid fresh allegations about his private life, a spokesman for Tory leader Michael Howard said.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson playing tennis during a visit to Crown and Manor Youth Club in north London, a 100-year-old youth club that has helped 10,000 boys.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson plays the 'Ball Game' with former rugby player Lawrence Dellaglio and local children involved in the Magic Bus Project in Mumbai today.
London mayor Boris Johnson at the Gate of India in Mumbai, after meeting business leaders at the Bombay Stock Exchange, as part of a week long tour of India where he is trying to persuade Indian businesses to invest in London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson plays the 'Ball Game' with former rugby player Lawrence Dellaglio and local children involved in the Magic Bus Project in Mumbai today.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson plays the 'Ball Game' with former rugby player Lawrence Dellaglio and local children involved in the Magic Bus Project in Mumbai today.
England cricketers Stuart Broad (left), James Anderson (2nd left), Kevin Pietersen (2nd right) and Matt Prior (right) pose for a photograph with Mayor of London Boris Johnson at a reception hosted by the Mayor in Mumbai, India.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson (left) with Prime Minister David Cameron during the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square, central London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson speaks about protection of school playing fields at the Sea Life Aquarium, London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson on board the HMS Severn ship on South Quay to launch the largest ever London poppy day appeal.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson addresses the Conservative Party conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson (left) with Prime Minister David Cameron during the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square, central London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson (left) with Prime Minister David Cameron during the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square, central London.
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, during his speech at London City Hall, where he told the Government to speed up aviation capacity in the south east of the country or risk economic stagnation for the whole of the UK.
London Mayor Boris Johnson at the Opening of IOC Session at the Royal Opera House, London.
Mayor Boris Johnson (left) and Arnold Schwarzenegger take a ride on the Emirates cable car from Greenwich to the ExCeL in Docklands, after watching the Olympic basketball in Greenwich.
London Mayor Boris Johnson plays basketball with pupils from Chiswick Community School in west London where he and London 2012 Chairman Lord Coe told the school how many Olympic tickets they would receive through the London 2012 Ticketshare scheme.
London Mayor Boris Johnson prepare to plays tennis during the International Paralympic Day in Trafalgar Square, London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference at City Hall in London, where he confirmed that Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin would run Scotland Yard, following the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson who resigned as Metropolitan Police Commissioner on Sunday night.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is handed a guitar by musician Newton Faulkner at London Bridge Station to highlight the Rhythm of London Busking Competition, London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson joins musician Newton Faulkner at London Bridge Station to highlight the Rhythm of London Busking Competition, London.
Mayor Boris Johnson announces Barbara Windsor as his 'Street Party Champion' for the Big Lunch, during a visit to the Rocky Park Urban Growers project on the Teesdale and Hollybush estate in Bethnal Green, London. People all over the UK are being encouraged to take part in the Big Lunch initiative this June, an annual event in which people have lunch with their neighbours.
London Mayor Boris Johnson (right) meets award winning rapper, Chipmunk at City Hall in London where he was speaking at Access All Areas, a music seminar for young people organised as part of the Mayor's Rhythm of London event.
London Mayor Boris Johnson with a sculpture of a blue cockeral as he unveils the next two commissions for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, which includes the cockeral (pictured) by Katharina Fritsch and a boy on a rocking horse named Powerless Structures by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.
London Mayor Boris Johnson takes part in a scientific experiment at the Royal Institution in central London to officially launch the Story of London festival.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson addresses the Annual Conservative Party Conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham.
London Mayor Boris Johnson takes part in a scientific experiment at the Royal Institution in central London to officially launch the Story of London festival.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson takes to the stage to launch T-Mobile Big Dance 2010 at the London Palladium, London.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson holds a Chinese dragon costume at a photocall in London's Chinatown district to promote the capital's Chinese New Year celebrations, which mark the start of the year of the Tiger on Sunday 21st February.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson wears a Chinese dragon costume at a photocall in London's Chinatown district to promote the capital's Chinese New Year celebrations, which mark the start of the year of the Tiger on Sunday 21st February.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Cheeky Girls help out on the trading floor at the BGC Partner's 7th Annual Charity Trading Day, at Churchill Place in Canary Wharf, east London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson holds a broom as he addresses members of the community outside Clapham Junction railway station following a night of disturbances across London and parts of the UK.