Blog
Feb 21, 2012
Around one in every 2000 people entering the UK between June 2010 and November 2011got in on the basis of a visual check of their ID papers only. We are not worried and we don't care. Here's the reason why...
Ho hum – another day, another crisis at the UK Border Agency. There’s a planet somewhere in the universe where the news that a large government department suffers from the things listed in report of the UKBA Independent Chief Inspector into last summer’s partial suspension of identity checks at a handful of ports would actually merit shock horror news coverage, but it really ought not to be this one.
Ho hum – another day, another crisis at the UK Border Agency. There’s a planet somewhere in the universe where the news that a large government department suffers from the things listed in report of the UKBA Independent Chief Inspector into last summer’s partial suspension of identity checks at a handful of ports would actually merit shock horror news coverage, but it really ought not to be this one.
Feb 20, 2012
MRN will be putting forward a manifesto asking for commitments on immigration and integration issues from the candidates fighting for the London mayoral election. We would like to invite comments and suggestions on the asks before putting them forward to the candidates. So please let us know what actions and policies you think the Mayor of London should adopt relating to migration and integration.
Feb 20, 2012
Comments: 2
When MRN was set up just over five years ago we set ourselves the task of strengthening connections between groups supporting the rights of migrants across the country, and using the example of their work to make the case for progressive immigration policies.
Ahead of the launch of our new report looking at the last 5 years of our work, I wanted to give you a sense of our ongoing mission and to invite you to join us at the launch event.
Ahead of the launch of our new report looking at the last 5 years of our work, I wanted to give you a sense of our ongoing mission and to invite you to join us at the launch event.
Feb 20, 2012
The Legal Aid Bill is about to end its time in the Lords – so what does it all mean for immigration advice and what can you do about it?
The past few weeks have seen the MRN team renewing efforts to generate action in opposition to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill – which after much debate in the Lords will return to the House of Commons in early March.
The past few weeks have seen the MRN team renewing efforts to generate action in opposition to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill – which after much debate in the Lords will return to the House of Commons in early March.
Feb 15, 2012
This is the first of two blogs looking at the elections for Mayor of London and Assembly Members that will be taking place on 3rd of May. In this blog I will look at the role of immigration and integration in the campaign. The second blog will present and ask for suggestions to a list of ‘asks’ that MRN would like to put forward to the candidates with the support of others working with migrants in London.
The latest election poll published this week suggests the race for London’s Mayoral election May is neck and neck with preferences so close that the margin of error for the poll is larger than the difference between the frontrunners. This means that the election race is wide open and that relatively small numbers of votes could tilt the balance one way or another. In this context every issue is potentially a defining issue and groups of voters with a common interest could settle the election if persuaded by one of the main candidates on their agenda. On the other hand, candidates are likely to avoid addressing issues that may generate controversy and lose them votes amongst mainstream voters.
The latest election poll published this week suggests the race for London’s Mayoral election May is neck and neck with preferences so close that the margin of error for the poll is larger than the difference between the frontrunners. This means that the election race is wide open and that relatively small numbers of votes could tilt the balance one way or another. In this context every issue is potentially a defining issue and groups of voters with a common interest could settle the election if persuaded by one of the main candidates on their agenda. On the other hand, candidates are likely to avoid addressing issues that may generate controversy and lose them votes amongst mainstream voters.
Feb 12, 2012
Comments: 8
Pushing down international student figures has been a big part of the government's plan to get net migration figure below a hundred thousand. But one year on since it imposed the changes in this area we are beginning to get a sense of the problems being stored up for the future.
We are getting to the first anniversary – in March - when the government commenced its policy of squeezing international student numbers as a part of its effort to bring net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’ mark.
We are getting to the first anniversary – in March - when the government commenced its policy of squeezing international student numbers as a part of its effort to bring net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’ mark.
Feb 10, 2012
Comments: 1
Last night's launch of the new Migrant Voice newspaper was a great chance to think about what we mean by the migration debate and where the views of migrants are heard within it.
Those who were there for the Migrant Voice launch last night at the Guardian offices were brought up to speed on the progress of this great organisation since it launched a couple of years ago. It was set up to offer trainings to migrants on how to speak to media and write for a non-migrant audience.
Those who were there for the Migrant Voice launch last night at the Guardian offices were brought up to speed on the progress of this great organisation since it launched a couple of years ago. It was set up to offer trainings to migrants on how to speak to media and write for a non-migrant audience.
Feb 5, 2012
Comments: 1
Remember the prime minister's speech in Munich attacking multiculturalism exactly one year ago? We take a look here at the way opponents of his 'muscular liberalism' thesis have been considering the issue in the 12 months since..
We are a year on from Mr Cameron’s famous speech in Munich in which he issued a broadside against ‘state multiculturalism’. On that occasion he set out the view that “a much more active, muscular liberalism” was needed to counter what he saw as a tendency for groups to fall back into ethnic ghettos. The danger of “extremism” loomed large in this situation, with the finger firmly pointed as radical Islam as the source for all this discontent. The speech encouraged counterblasts from a number of commentators and activists who were prepared to defend the concept of multiculturalism and insist that it has a role to play in informing our viewpoints on who we can live together in diverse ethnic societies.
We are a year on from Mr Cameron’s famous speech in Munich in which he issued a broadside against ‘state multiculturalism’. On that occasion he set out the view that “a much more active, muscular liberalism” was needed to counter what he saw as a tendency for groups to fall back into ethnic ghettos. The danger of “extremism” loomed large in this situation, with the finger firmly pointed as radical Islam as the source for all this discontent. The speech encouraged counterblasts from a number of commentators and activists who were prepared to defend the concept of multiculturalism and insist that it has a role to play in informing our viewpoints on who we can live together in diverse ethnic societies.
Feb 2, 2012
Comments: 30
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: 19
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.
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