Lib Dems call for amnesty for illegal immigrants
Yesterday the Liberal Democrats announced that as many as 600,000 illegal immigrants ought to have the right to earn full citizenship.
It is the first time a major party has advocated amnesty for this group of migrants. The party’s homes affairs spokesperson, Nick Clegg said that providing a path to citizenship was the only viable way to deal with migrants who have lived in Britain illegally for many years.
As part of the new scheme, which will be debated next month by the party’s annual conference, illegal migrants who have resided in Britain for ten years, do not have a criminal record and can prove a commitment to the country could be entitled to citizenship. Applicants would be required to prove they have a good grasp of English, pay a fee and pass a public interest test. Mr Clegg said that the new proposal would liberate people from working illegally outside the usual employment laws and being exploited.
On the other hand, the Conservatives criticized the plans claiming they would encourage illegal immigrants to come to Britain. The Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis said the plans were irresponsible because they encourage illegal immigrants on the one hand and disadvantaged those immigrants who have tried to come to the UK lawfully on the other.
Ministers have been confronted with criticisms that the immigration system is out of control because figures showed a decrease in the amount of failed asylum seekers deported this spring. Recent estimates have suggested that there may be between 310,000 and 570,000 illegal immigrants living in Britain. A report released from the Institute of Public Policy Research estimated that an amnesty may be worth up to £6 billion to Britain’s economy.
