Britain plans 'national service' for asylum seekers

Britain plans 'national service' for asylum seekers

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By Staff Reporter

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair plans to make failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe and other countries do months of "national service" in a bid to convince voters he has not lost control of the immigration system.

Later this month, Blair will set out a raft of new measures designed to prove to voters that he is determind to finally "get a grip" on the issue, the right-wing Daily Express newspaper reported.

The paper says that pride of place will be given to a plan for failed asylum seekers awaiting the results of appeals to do 35 hours a week community work in return for their board and lodging.

The latest moves will further infuriate Zimbabwean campaigners and human rights groups who have planned a big demonstration at the Home Office on 29 January to protest the deportation of Zimbabweans.

British Ministers believe it will be a hit with many older voters who resent paying for the upkeep of young men whose claims have already been judged bogus. Opposition MPs and immigration experts dubbed the idea the latest in a long line of Blairite "gimmicks".

"This plan would apply to all able-bodied asylum seekers going through the appeals process after their initial application for asylum has been turned down," a Labour source told the Express.

"We would require them to do a full five-day week on community projects in return for basic bed and board. We want to convince people we do not condone young men who abuse the asylum system. They will be set to work on removing graffiti and litter and cleaning up neighbourhoods."

The government is also expected to repackage a promise that more asylum seekers will be removed, than arrive, after failing to make the expected progress towards fulfilling that pledge.

Currently the average asylum appeal takes around six months to resolve, but four out of five of those turned down are never removed from Britain.

THE UK ZIMBABWEAN COMMUNITY (UKZICO) CALLS FOR AN END TO THESE FORCED REMOVALS.
A DEMONSTRATION IS TO BE STAGED AT THE HOME OFFICE (WHO ARE THE POLICY MAKERS)

STOP THE REMOVALS DEMO
DATE: 29TH JANUARY 2005
TIME: 1300hrs to 1700hrs
VENUE THE HOME OFFICE
50 QUEEN ANNE’S GATE
LONDON
SW1H 9AT
Call Chireka 07960209253 or Molife on 07944955988

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said the community work idea appeared to be "window dressing" for the Government ahead of the general election.

He said: "This is best viewed as a harmless gimmick. It will do nothing to address the main problem of the asylum system which is that four out of five failed applicants are able to stay on in Britain. For as long as that situation is allowed to continue, we will remain one of the top global destinations for asylum seekers. In any case, other forms of immigration last year were responsible for three times as many arrivals as asylum seeking.

"The Government`s own projections show that immigration will add five million to our population in the next 30 years. This is what needs action."

Tory shadow home secretary David Davis predicted public scepticism towards Mr Blair`s latest crackdown. He said: "People will treat this headline-grabbing announcement from Tony Blair with the scepticism it deserves. Since 1997 the asylum and immigration system has descended into shambles.

"One million iimigrations have come to this country under Labour, while 80 per cent of failed asylum seekers are never removed. Only the Conservatives would get a grip."
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