MICHAEL HOWARD: GETTING A GRIP ON ASYLUM
(22 September 2004)

Michael Howard today said in a speech that immigration made Britain a stronger country but that the current system needed to be reformed so that it was fairer and more effective. He said firm but fair immigration controls are essential for the national security, the management of public services and good race relations. He warned that under Labour Britain’s asylum and immigration system is chaotic, unfair and out of control.

He said “David Blunkett may believe that there is “no obvious upper limit to legal immigration”. I do not agree. While migration in both directions is part of a competitive and dynamic modern economy, immigration to Britain cannot continue at its present, uncontrolled levels.”

Immigration has more than doubled under Labour. When Michael Howard was Home Secretary it was broadly stable. Total net immigration to Britain has averaged 158,000 people a year for the last 5 years. Asylum applications are almost 60 per cent higher than they were in 1997. Only 1 in 5 failed asylum seekers is removed from the UK. There are now over 250,000 failed asylum seekers living in Britain. In the last 3 years there have been only 17 prosecutions and 6 convictions for employing illegal immigrants.

The number of work permits granted has gone up by 400% since 1997. According to the Government, Britain’s population will grow by 5.6 million people over the next 30 years – 5 times the population of Birmingham. 85% of that increase is due to immigration.

Mr Howard, outlined in this speech the impact of this growth and what he and his party intend to do. "Population increases of this kind impact on public services, the demand for housing and community relations. Britain needs a system that helps genuine refugees and gives priority to those who want to come to Britain, work hard and make a positive contribution. A Conservative Government will get the system under control. It would:

1. Crack down on illegal immigration by re-introducing embarkation controls and taking tough action against companies who employ people illegally.

2. Introduce an annual limit to immigration. Each year Parliament would set a maximum limit on the number of people coming to Britain - just like Australia. That limit would be determined by Britain’s economic needs, the demands of family reunion and our moral obligation to refugees.

3. Introduce strict control on work permits. We will introduce a points-based system on the Australian model for the evaluation of applications. We will end the assumption that a work permit almost automatically leads to long term settlement.

4. Pull out of the 1951 Refugee Convention and enter reservations against the relevant parts of the European Convention on Human Rights. We will replace the Convention with British legislation, which will allow asylum cases to be decided more swiftly. Genuine refugees will be welcomed, but those who are not will be swiftly removed.

5. Significantly reduce the number of people coming to Britain by getting a grip on work permits and taking firm action to stop people who are not genuine refugees applying for asylum.

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