While immigration has been cited as a key issue for those who voted Leave, economists say the evidence suggests its effects on jobs and wages of UK-born citizens are small. Diane Coyle offers some policy measures for a future chancellor that could more effectively help those left feeling angry and disillusioned by years of stagnation […]
Out of Africa: Asylum seekers, Europe and the ‘capacity to aspire’
Recent debates about Europe in light of the EU Referendum have centred heavily on two main issues – immigration and the economy. To mark Refugee Week, which seeks to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, Tanja Müller argues that EU asylum and refugee law is making unfair distinctions between countries, and that the […]
Racial disadvantage: are some Government policies contributing?
When Sadiq Khan was sworn in as the new London mayor last month, the Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, said that the first Muslim mayor of any capital city in the EU could “pave the way for a ‘prime minister of colour’”. James Rhodes says this appointment is a great leap in the right direction […]
Testing times: why the UK’s citizenship tests fail to deliver
Citizenship tests were introduced in the UK in 2005, as part of a raft of innovations in the area of citizenship and naturalisation. But are these tests requiring immigrants to the UK to become ‘super-citizens’, before we allow them to have full citizenship rights? Dr Bridget Byrne, author of recent research into the test, argues […]
Ethnically targeted government assistance: a hard sell
How can the UK Government best tackle ethnic disadvantage? Dr Rob Ford looks at why a targeted approach aiming to tackle the problem directly could be politically dangerous. Discrimination is a serious problem in Britain. A wide range of research shows ethnic minorities suffer disadvantages in university applications, in the labour market, in the housing market […]
Do hard times increase concerns about immigration?
Dr Ingrid Storm argues that economic concerns about immigration are related to financial insecurity. In the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis immigration is high on the political agenda throughout Europe, sharply dividing public opinion. Anti-immigration rhetoric often paints a picture of immigrants as “stealing jobs” or “scrounging” on the welfare system, arguments that can […]
A Tale of Two Speeches?
What does the Conservative election victory mean for the North of England and higher education? Professor Andy Westwood interprets the signals. Just in case you didn’t know, the Northern Powerhouse is ‘GO’ and was confirmed in today’s Queens Speech. George Osborne reaffirmed his commitment to the idea almost immediately after he and the Conservatives won […]
Locked up in Limbo
Indefinite detention of asylum seekers and refugees in the ‘abusive’ Immigration Removal Centres such as Yarl’s Wood is a scandal and a stain on the UK’s reputation, argues Dr Claire Fox. The UK’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees came under severe, critical, scrutiny last week. A report was published by two All Party Parliamentary […]
Politicians need to grasp that there are many ways of being British
There are many ways of being British. This is a reality that politicians and others need to understand, explains Dr Bridget Byrne. In response to the ‘Trojan horse’ controversy in Birmingham, David Cameron, Conservative Party leader has again stressed his belief in the need to emphasise ‘British values’. This is not a new approach. In […]
Snakes and Ladders: the challenge of regularising immigration status
Anti-immigration parties gained support in the European elections, but politicians’ real challenge is to reform a system that treats undocumented migrants unfairly, argues Dr Claire Fox. Despite the election rhetoric and growing support for anti-immigration politicians, the number of undocumented, ‘irregular’, migrants in the UK probably fell in recent years. Increasingly tough immigration policies and […]