Legal News

Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has responded to Prime Minister David Cameron’s proposal to cap the number of new migrants entering the UK every year by saying a cap is not going to happen.

Mr Cable has accused the Tory party of panicking over immigration as the 1 January deadline for lifting restrictions on Bulgaria and Romania looms.

Mr Cable accused the Conservatives of reacting because of fears over UKIP – and also referred to Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech and the “panic” prompted by widespread Jewish immigration to Britain a century ago.

Mr Cable was speaking to Andrew Marr on his BBC1 show on Sunday (22/12/13) and said:
“The responsibility of politicians in this situation when people are getting anxious is to try to reassure them and give the facts – not panic and resort to populist measures that do harm. The 75,000 cap is illegal and impossible to implement in any event.
“The responsibility of politicians in this situation is to look at the facts and the simple point is that there is very little evidence of benefit tourism for people coming from Eastern Europe.”
Mr Cable said that the Conservatives were “in a bit of a panic because of UKIP reacting in the way they are”.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has also said that a cap would be “arbitrary” and pointless” – and pledged to block any further attempts to limit immigration from the EU.

Mr Clegg said that without maintaining freedom of movement within the EU, the City of London and NHS would “fall over”.

Writing in The Sunday Times Mr Clegg said:
“Sticking a big no-entry sign on the cliffs of Dover may be politically popular, but at a huge economic cost.
“What would happen if tonight every European living in the UK boarded a ship or plane and went home?”
Recent research has shown that new migrants have contributed £25 billion to the UK economy since 2000 – and are less likely to claim benefits than UK nationals.

On Sunday, the Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev also spoke in the media about the growing argument over immigration in the UK, saying Britain’s reputation as a global power would be harmed if the UK restricted the number of new migrants allowed to settle in the country.

He also said proposals to limit migration to the UK suggested a move towards nationalism and isolation.

Mr Plevneliev told the Observer:

“Bulgarian people are raising a lot of questions today about the democratic, tolerant and humane British society.”

Recent debate over immigration and new limits imposed on migrants claiming benefits when they first arrive in the UK have been prompted by perceived public fears over widescale immigration from Bulgaria and Romania after 1 January.

John Bird – founder of the Big Issue magazine, which is sold on the streets by homeless vendors – said that many Big Issue vendors are now Roma gypsies who have come to the UK to escape “feral poverty” in their own countries.

In Bulgaria, Roma gypsies are one of the largest ethnic minority groups. In 2005, Bulgaria launched “A Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015” to improve the lot of Roma communities in Bulgaria.

In France, Interior Minister Manuel Valls has called for Roma gypsies from Bulgaria and Romania to return to their home countries because “they don’t integrate well in France”.

Groups of Roma in the UK recently hit the headlines for sleeping rough in areas like Mayfair and Westminster in London, where some of the most expensive real estate in the world is located.

In a BBC documentary, some Roma communities living in London parks said they would rather sleep rough in London than return to their home countries and face grinding poverty and social exclusion there.

Westminster Council has been trying to remove Roma communities from central London parks for 18 months and there are now plans to introduce exclusion zones – know as Public Spaces Protection Orders – round areas where there are tourist attractions; and also travel hubs such as Victoria station.

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For expert advice on all aspects of immigration and asylum in the UK, contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.