In June 2013, Theresa May announced a pilot scheme to make visitors from India (as well as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria) pay a £3000 bond when applying for visas. In news today, it seems that these plans which were meant to be rolled out this month have now been scrapped after the policy caused outrage at home and abroad and exposed a divide in the governing coalition.
‘Discriminatory’ UK Immigration Visa Bonds Scrapped
The government’s plan was to have a £3000 deposit imposed on visitors from Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka in order to receive a visa. These chosen countries were viewed as ‘high risk’ in regards to illegal immigration. A spokesperson for the government has now abruptly announced: “We have decided not to proceed”.
The Liberal Democrats have insisted that they are the reason Theresa May abandoned the plan. Initially Nick Clegg agreed with the plan, only to change his mind when other members of his party called it “discriminatory”.
The Affiliation of Indian Industry described the pilot scheme as “highly discriminatory”, and would likely risk an EU-India trade deal and ruin a “special relationship” with Britain
Labour Govt: Conservatives Immigration Policy is Not Right
Immigration seems to be one of the most important issues facing Britain. The Labour party, which is ahead of the conservatives in opinion polls believe that David Cameron’s immigration policy is in bits and pieces. David Hanson, spokesperson for Labour party said:
“It seems David Cameron’s government can’t get anything right when it comes to dealing with illegal immigration. Investors in India are now put off from investing in the UK, whilst the Home Office fail repeatedly to do anything about their failure at our borders to stop and return illegal immigrants.”
Despite the government insisting their plan to control net migration in the UK is right on track, a number of changes to immigration law are going to take place, including the increasing of fines for employers hiring illegal immigrants, compulsory immigration paper checks on tenants by landlords, and making it tougher for illegal immigrants to get driving licences or open bank accounts.
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