(UK) Immigration amnesty was a modest plan. Electioneering has killed it

[pampango]

Source: UK Guardian

Cameron's bashing of Clegg has scuppered a sensible policy

It is a salutory thought that just as Barack Obama is trying to create "a pathway to citizenship" for 10.8 million illegal migrants in America, the political chances of a much smaller-scale amnesty being introduced in Britain were killed off for another five years during last night's leaders debate.

After Nick Clegg's wobbly defence of his plans for "earned citizenship" for those who have lived illegally in Britain for at least 10 years, the Conservatives already had poster vans on the road this morning claiming the Lib Dems not only welcomed illegal migrants but saying they could "bring a mate as well".

But while David Cameron obviously believes his attacks on an immigration "amnesty" have proved crucial in halting the Lib Dem surge, the real losers are likely to be the unknown thousands of irregular migrants who are enduring a clandestine existence often putting down strong roots in the communities where they live.

Obama has said that mass deportation of illegal migrants is not the answer because it involves painful decisions tearing people away from communities and "we are not that sort of people". In Britain where deportations run at no more than 20,000 a year it is not an answer either. The problem of such a large population living illegally in Britain will not go away. But unfortunately one by-product of the 2010 general election campaign appears to be that the means to do something about it has been lost.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/30/immigration-asylum-amnesty-election

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Does Frank Luntz advise the Conservative Party in the UK in addition to the republicans? Sounds like Cameron's ability to exaggerate, misrepresent and push the buttons of voters' fears and emotions (does that sound familiar) have damaged, if not killed, progress on immigration reform in the UK.

Seems the Liberal Democrats' proposal for "earned citizenship" was a lot smaller in scope than that contained Obama's framework for comprehensive immigration reform, but a modern conservative never misses a chance to push the "amnesty" button while, of course, presenting no practical alternative.

[Turborama]

1. Yes, Frank Luntz is a campaign advisor for the Tories

As he freely admits in this interview with David Frost on AJ English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SUbVUQnqs

[pampango]

2. I thought I was just reaching with the Luntz connection. Thanks for the info. n/t

[T_i_B]

3. I'm fed up with all the immigrant bashing at this election