Blog
Feb 2, 2012
Comments: 13
The speech of the immigration minister, Damian Green, before an audience assembled by the Conservative think-tank Policy Exchange this morning didn’t quite turn out to be the announcement of firm new policy we had thought it might be.
Much of the detail is still obviously being worked over by the policy wonks in the UK Border Agency and it seems we will have to wait another month or so before we find out more on the income levels the government intends to fix to allow family members in the UK to be joined by partners and children residing abroad, or the rate for the chosen elite of skilled workers who will be allowed to proceed from temporary status to settlement and eventual British citizenship.
Much of the detail is still obviously being worked over by the policy wonks in the UK Border Agency and it seems we will have to wait another month or so before we find out more on the income levels the government intends to fix to allow family members in the UK to be joined by partners and children residing abroad, or the rate for the chosen elite of skilled workers who will be allowed to proceed from temporary status to settlement and eventual British citizenship.
Jan 30, 2012
Comments: 3
2012 is the 50th birthday of the Commonwealth Immigration Act – a major milestone in the development of immigration controls in the UK. This is an opportunity to look at impacts of the Act, and to ask how we can move beyond its legacy to a better immigration system for the UK.
2012 seems to be a year overloaded with special events and anniversaries, with the London Olympics and the Queen’s 60th Jubilee grabbing all the headlines. Here’s one you might be in danger of missing though: this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Commonwealth Immigrants Act.
2012 seems to be a year overloaded with special events and anniversaries, with the London Olympics and the Queen’s 60th Jubilee grabbing all the headlines. Here’s one you might be in danger of missing though: this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Commonwealth Immigrants Act.
Jan 30, 2012
Comments: 10
This weekend the immigration minister gave an interview which hinted at major policy measures to be announced this week. Unfortunately the indications are that pessimism is winning in the immigration policy arena...
Yesterday's papers brought the news, based on a Sunday Times interview by immigration minister Damian Green, that this week we can finally expect the government's policy announcement on reforms to the rules affecting skilled workers and family members coming to the UK. If the media is to be believed, this is likely to be a double-whammy – with the outcomes of two major government consultations combined into one policy announcement.
Yesterday's papers brought the news, based on a Sunday Times interview by immigration minister Damian Green, that this week we can finally expect the government's policy announcement on reforms to the rules affecting skilled workers and family members coming to the UK. If the media is to be believed, this is likely to be a double-whammy – with the outcomes of two major government consultations combined into one policy announcement.
Jan 22, 2012
Comments: 7
The government's narrative on the 'problems' of immigration began to fall apart at the seams last week, as the claims of Ministers on migration and benefit claims dissolved under closer examination. It has been a setback for the anti-immigration lobby, but how do we follow it up?
I had the opportunity to give my views on the DWP report on unemployment and non-UK-born benefits recipients on the BBC’s News 24 channel last week. Having made the point, hopefully persuasively, that the statistics considered in that piece of work contradicted the spin the two government ministers, Grayling and Green, had attempted to put in it, the programme presenter pushed me to set out my own solutions to ‘the problem’.
I had the opportunity to give my views on the DWP report on unemployment and non-UK-born benefits recipients on the BBC’s News 24 channel last week. Having made the point, hopefully persuasively, that the statistics considered in that piece of work contradicted the spin the two government ministers, Grayling and Green, had attempted to put in it, the programme presenter pushed me to set out my own solutions to ‘the problem’.
Jan 20, 2012
Comments: 17
It isn't just the Italian liner that's on the rocks this morning - it's the entire UK economy. As ministers look for a lifeboat to stumble into, it occurs to them to 'blame the immigrants...'
Strange, but I’d thought we’d plumbed the depths of calumny and distortion around this business of migration and the economy. But employment minister Chris Grayling and immigration minister Damian Green have shown that there are always a few metres even further to go into the detritus of the ‘public conversation’ in their article in the Daily Telegraph this morning.
Strange, but I’d thought we’d plumbed the depths of calumny and distortion around this business of migration and the economy. But employment minister Chris Grayling and immigration minister Damian Green have shown that there are always a few metres even further to go into the detritus of the ‘public conversation’ in their article in the Daily Telegraph this morning.
Jan 16, 2012
The Parliamentary Under Secretary for Public Health, Anne Milton, has written to MRN to provide assurance that migrants and visitors who consult GPs or use other primary health care services whilst in the UK will not be pursued by the UKBA to pay costs or lose the right to re-enter the country.
The issue had become a matter of concern for GPs and primary care trusts because recent immigration rule changes created a power for immigration officers to refuse entry to any person with an unpaid debt to the NHS of £1000 or over.
The issue had become a matter of concern for GPs and primary care trusts because recent immigration rule changes created a power for immigration officers to refuse entry to any person with an unpaid debt to the NHS of £1000 or over.
Jan 11, 2012
Comments: 4
Yes, you wait for ages for a definite analysis of the impact of migration on the economy, and like the 73 bus,a whole gaggle come along at once. How do we make sense of the apparently contradictory conclusions which have emerged from the NIESR and MAC reports?
MRN has been upfront in arguing that a clampdown on immigration is something we don’t need at a time when economies are struggling to escape from austerity. The viewpoint of anti-immigrant groups is exactly the opposite: at a time of pressing hardship we need to stop newcomers entering the country so we can preserve the jobs and services that remain for those already here.
MRN has been upfront in arguing that a clampdown on immigration is something we don’t need at a time when economies are struggling to escape from austerity. The viewpoint of anti-immigrant groups is exactly the opposite: at a time of pressing hardship we need to stop newcomers entering the country so we can preserve the jobs and services that remain for those already here.
Jan 9, 2012
Comments: 29
The outcome of the trial in case of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the killing of Indian student Anuj Bidve, and the furore over the tweets of Labour MP Diane Abbott on white people and divide and rule, suggest that we are still on a learning curve as to the reason why racism continues to exist in the UK. What direction are we heading, and does it still have anything to do with immigration?
There are basically two schools of thought about the current state of play with regard to racism in the UK today. One of these grows out of the “post-racism” thesis propounded most prominently by contributors to the magazine Prospect and also supported by New Labour thinkers like the former communities and local government secretary of state, John Denham.
There are basically two schools of thought about the current state of play with regard to racism in the UK today. One of these grows out of the “post-racism” thesis propounded most prominently by contributors to the magazine Prospect and also supported by New Labour thinkers like the former communities and local government secretary of state, John Denham.
Jan 9, 2012
Comments: 2
We can expect business voices on migration to ring out over the coming months as economic migration policies tighten. So what will businesses be arguing for, and what is the relevance of these arguments to the migrant support sector?
As the New Year begins with more gloomy economic forecasting, we can expect an increase in the finger-pointing at migration as a major cause of today's economic and labour market problems. But in the midst of this, many will be preoccupied by evidence to the contrary, which indicates the vital role for immigration in today's economy - and the part that continued international mobility needs to play in supporting the UK's economic growth into the future.
As the New Year begins with more gloomy economic forecasting, we can expect an increase in the finger-pointing at migration as a major cause of today's economic and labour market problems. But in the midst of this, many will be preoccupied by evidence to the contrary, which indicates the vital role for immigration in today's economy - and the part that continued international mobility needs to play in supporting the UK's economic growth into the future.
Jan 3, 2012
Comments: 7
The start of a fresh New Year is a time for making predictions as well as resolutions. Resolutions are a bit personal, but predictions aren’t worth much unless you have the nerve to state them openly. So here’s my take on what challenges are in store for the world of immigration in 2012.....
Firstly, the coming year will be the last chance the coalition government has to declare itself fully in control of movements across borders, before its narrative breaks down in 2013 and following years. Home Secretary Teresa May will continue to work hard to offer raw red meat to the backbenchers of her own party with evidence that security at air and sea ports and the Eurostar stations is tight. This will be achieved at the cost of long delays and enormous queues, as we saw at Heathrow last summer, with tourists suffering in their thousands as they struggle to clear passport checks.
Firstly, the coming year will be the last chance the coalition government has to declare itself fully in control of movements across borders, before its narrative breaks down in 2013 and following years. Home Secretary Teresa May will continue to work hard to offer raw red meat to the backbenchers of her own party with evidence that security at air and sea ports and the Eurostar stations is tight. This will be achieved at the cost of long delays and enormous queues, as we saw at Heathrow last summer, with tourists suffering in their thousands as they struggle to clear passport checks.
Jan 3, 2012
Comments: 1
By restricting entry, settlement and family reunification in the UK now, the UK risks putting off those that it will be seeking to attract in the future, as well as making the process of migration more precarious for all...
At the end of 2011 the immigration debate in the UK is, understandably, shaped by wider pressing concerns. Life in austerity Britain is set to become grimmer for many as the public purse strings are tightened, unemployment rises and public services are further squeezed.
At the end of 2011 the immigration debate in the UK is, understandably, shaped by wider pressing concerns. Life in austerity Britain is set to become grimmer for many as the public purse strings are tightened, unemployment rises and public services are further squeezed.
Dec 21, 2011
Comments: 2
MRN Newsletter and our blogs will be taking a break over the holidays, next appearing on Tuesday 3rd January. We will be resuming normal Monday publication on a weekly basis after that. As well as wishing you all the very best for the festive season, we thought you might like to hear a little of what we are planning for 2012....
Our team here at MRN would like to say how much we have appreciated working with you all over the course of the last 12 months. As a network our capacity to do this work depends on all the feedback we get from you. The exchanges on our blogs, Facebook postings and tweets, as well as the conversations we have at the numerous workshops and conferences we’ve been involved in during the past 12 months, have all added to the message MRN strives to get out into the wider public discussion – that migration is a positive feature of the life of modern day Britain and support for the rights of migrants needs to be made a central part of the immigration policies which we ought to be pursuing. We have a very full programme of activity lined up for 2012. We expect to be fully involved in campaigns to:
Our team here at MRN would like to say how much we have appreciated working with you all over the course of the last 12 months. As a network our capacity to do this work depends on all the feedback we get from you. The exchanges on our blogs, Facebook postings and tweets, as well as the conversations we have at the numerous workshops and conferences we’ve been involved in during the past 12 months, have all added to the message MRN strives to get out into the wider public discussion – that migration is a positive feature of the life of modern day Britain and support for the rights of migrants needs to be made a central part of the immigration policies which we ought to be pursuing. We have a very full programme of activity lined up for 2012. We expect to be fully involved in campaigns to:
Dec 19, 2011
It looks like we will now have to wait until the New Year before hearing the government's decision on the fate of the domestic worker visa. But the good news is that gives you time to ask Home Secretary Theresa May to keep the protections in place for migrant domestic workers in the UK...
Thank you everyone for your support so far! Since MRN and Kalayaan launched a letter-writing campaign in support of domestic workers last week, over 100 people have written to the Home Secretary in support of migrant domestic workers. Most people have added their own messages to tell her exactly why they are appalled by government plans to get rid of the current protections for domestic workers in the UK. This comes on the back of a busy autumn for campaigners such as Kalayaan and Justice for Domestic Workers who have been working hard to convince the government not to make these changes. Now we need to keep the pressure up by urging her to do the right thing. As the announcement has now been put back to the New Year, we have a bit more time to send messages to the Home Secretary ...
Thank you everyone for your support so far! Since MRN and Kalayaan launched a letter-writing campaign in support of domestic workers last week, over 100 people have written to the Home Secretary in support of migrant domestic workers. Most people have added their own messages to tell her exactly why they are appalled by government plans to get rid of the current protections for domestic workers in the UK. This comes on the back of a busy autumn for campaigners such as Kalayaan and Justice for Domestic Workers who have been working hard to convince the government not to make these changes. Now we need to keep the pressure up by urging her to do the right thing. As the announcement has now been put back to the New Year, we have a bit more time to send messages to the Home Secretary ...
Dec 19, 2011
Comments: 10
Migrant communities weren't expecting the kick in the teeth they have got from the recent High Court ruling on the issue of family reunion rights. With more plans to restrict these further down the line, expect things to get a whole lot worse.
The unwelcome irony of last week’s announcement in the High Court of the ruling in the case of Chapti & Ors is that it came out just two days before the world is supposed to celebrate International Migrants Day (IMD). This is a time when we are expected to acknowledge what the experience of being a migrant means in today’s world, and how better recognition of human rights would ease passage into society's mainstream. But this ruling means that a crucial element in achieving this goal has just got a lot harder.
The unwelcome irony of last week’s announcement in the High Court of the ruling in the case of Chapti & Ors is that it came out just two days before the world is supposed to celebrate International Migrants Day (IMD). This is a time when we are expected to acknowledge what the experience of being a migrant means in today’s world, and how better recognition of human rights would ease passage into society's mainstream. But this ruling means that a crucial element in achieving this goal has just got a lot harder.
Dec 13, 2011
Comments: 2
The debate on immigration in Parliament pulled in 24 MPs of which two were Home Office ministers (Damian Green MP and James Brokenshire MP) and one was the Shadow Minister for Immigration (Chris Bryant MP). There was no specific element of UK immigration policy on trial in the Commons chamber but the subject in its entirety was debated, drawing on comparisons between the previous and incumbent governments record on the matter.
Damian Green MP, the Minister of State for Immigration, gave the audience an update on the government’s vision and priorities on immigration, repeating the oft heard mantra of attracting ‘the brightest and the best’, or as we now hear ‘selective immigration’ because the previous government had a system that ‘was not only chaotic but indiscriminate’. This statement could be interpreted as a government policy that happily promotes discrimination, coating it with the arch-narrative of ‘protecting jobs’ and only attracting the ‘investors’ and ‘entrepreneurs’.
Damian Green MP, the Minister of State for Immigration, gave the audience an update on the government’s vision and priorities on immigration, repeating the oft heard mantra of attracting ‘the brightest and the best’, or as we now hear ‘selective immigration’ because the previous government had a system that ‘was not only chaotic but indiscriminate’. This statement could be interpreted as a government policy that happily promotes discrimination, coating it with the arch-narrative of ‘protecting jobs’ and only attracting the ‘investors’ and ‘entrepreneurs’.
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