Two thirds of Brits want amnesty for illegal immigrants

Two thirds of Brits want amnesty for illegal immigrants

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By Jon Land

TWO thirds of Britons believe illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for more than four years and who work and pay taxes should be allowed to stay, according to a poll.

The survey of 1,004 British adults also found two out of three people believe asylum seekers should be allowed to work.

The poll, commissioned by the Citizen Organising Foundation (COF), an umbrella body of religious, community and labour organisations, also showed 21% think the Labour government is doing a good job at handling immigration.

The survey, released this week, is part of the COF's Strangers into Citizens campaign, which is calling for a two-year work permit for migrants who have been in the UK for more than four years.

The campaign has the backing of church leaders, and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

Campaign coordinator Austen Ivereigh said: "What this poll shows is that British people welcome immigrants who work and who are part of society.

"That is precisely the case with long-term undocumented migrants, who have put down roots in Britain because they have found work and opportunity here."

The Home Office estimates there are between 310,000 and 570,000 illegal immigrants in the UK.

The campaign proposes an "earned regularisation" programme which would offer provisional work permits to migrants who become permanent by having stable employment and passing language tests.

Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, said: "This poll is a ringing endorsement of what IAS has recommended to Government over many years, namely that those who work illegally should be regularised in the interests of the British taxpayer - as it could add GBP1 billion to the Exchequer each year - and in their own interests as it lends dignity to be able to work."

The poll results were also welcomed by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), an independent think tank which last year published a report arguing the regularisation case for the UK.

Jill Rutter, senior research fellow on IPPR's migration team, said: "Politicians of all parties have always argued that negative public opinion stops them from regularising the status of long-term irregular migrants.

"The Strangers into Citizens poll challenges this belief, and shows that the British public will accept an amnesty - as long as migrants pay taxes. It's now high time Government considers regularisation as the only economically viable policy option."

Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: "This poll makes clear that just talking tough will not be enough to fob off the UK public on immigration.

"They want the political parties to get real and respond in a way that is workable and fair to migrants who are living as members of our society.

"We hope this will persuade politicians from across the spectrum to show leadership and at least reopen the debate on regularisation."

Sandy Buchan, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: "This poll shows that the government's position of not allowing asylum seekers to work is clearly unpopular with the public.

"Refugee Action believe that the Government should grant a legal status with the right to work to refused asylum seekers who cannot return home.

"There is also no evidence that allowing permission to work will encourage abusive applications as the government seems to think."

Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "This poll shows that despite years of scaremongering on immigration by migration detractors, the British people's sense of justice shines through.

"Fed up with initiative overload, what the public wants is fair and lasting solutions to irregular working.

"It is simply not possible to hunt down and deport the hundreds of thousands of people who for a variety of reasons find themselves without status in this country and now we have the proof that this is not something the British public view as desirable either.

"We hope this ushers in fresh thinking by Government and we can move forward on tackling the undercutting and abuse of workers that thrives when desperate people are forced into the shadows."

The Strangers into Citizens campaign is holding a National Day of Action and Celebration on Monday May 7, following Mass at Westminster Cathedral celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

Baroness (Shirley) Williams, Jack Dromey, deputy general-secretary of the TGWU, and the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, Dr Tom Butler, will be among speakers at a rally in Trafalgar Square. - Associated Press
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