media reports July 2008

30 July 08

Sham Government ruled illegal on weddings
The UK government has been found to be acting illegally again, with it’s laws targetting marriages of non-British residents found to be an “unjust and arbritary” breach of human rights.

29 July 08

Marriage visa plan needs a re-think
The Home Office’s announcement that it is to raise the age for [...]

News round-up 28 July

In news reports this week:

The baby boom and in-migration boosting Scotland’s population – but can we rely on the figures?
Ireland is apparently twice as attractive to migrants than Scotland.
UK government raises the age for marriage visas to 21 – out of concern for women, or to appear tough(er) on migrants?
A new report finds that tackling [...]

Immigration and social cohesion: new JRF report

New from Joseph Rowntree Foundation…
Trying to create a fixed sense of ‘Britishness’ will not achieve social cohesion
Addressing deprivation and how people connect is more important for social cohesion than trying to get everyone to adhere to the same fixed notion of “Britishness”. This is according to research published today (21 July) by the Joseph Rowntree [...]

News round-up, 20 July 08

In news reports this week:

UK Government publishes it’s annual crackdown on migrants with the Draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill
The BBC sensationalises with an undercover investigation of the poverty, misery and exploitation of Punjabi migrants in London.
Comment on barriers to integration faced by migrants working long hours and living in awful housing.
Hsiao-Hung Pai, author of Chinese [...]

Undocumented: a life of poverty, exploitation and danger

An undercover investigation by the BBC looks at the hidden world of undocumented Punjabi migrants in London. The hidden-camera investigation (with sensationalist headlines “Migrant criminal network exposed” and “Life as an illegal immigrant”) reports that these mostly young, Punjabi men are subsisting through poorly paid, dangerous and demeaning work, and are forced to rely on [...]

discrimination and integration

Two interesting articles:
The Kitchen Classes
Minority-run caterers are being unfairly targeted in a severe crackdown on undocumented workers. The crackdown and its discriminatory naming and shaming of ethnic minority businesses will only increase workers’ illegality and exploitation. The honest and real solution is to give them the status and respect that they deserve. By Hsiao-Hung Pai, [...]

Draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill launched

The UK government has unveiled it’s draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill. The “tough new approach” will apparently represent a “sweeping overhaul of all immigration laws dating back to 1971″ (all but two of which have been passed by this government).
The UK Border Agency press release starts with some figures from a Mori poll carried out [...]

Demonstration at High Court for Southall Black Sisters

Demonstration 17th and 18th July 2008.
From 9.30am onwards at the High Court on the Strand, London
This is no longer simply about the funding of SBS. The case represents a key moment for the third sector.
Many of you are already aware that SBS has been locked in struggle against Ealing Council with regard to its [...]

Human rights are not safe in the hands of Government

Published by Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)
Speaking in a debate on Sunday evening, 29th June 2008, in Brent Town Hall, Wembley, London in favour of the proposition “Borders and boundaries are against the human right to liberty and freedom of movement” Keith Best, IAS Chief Executive, said that history has shown us that human rights are [...]

Listening to migrant workers at Holyrood

Lunchtime meeting, Committee Room 4 of the Scottish Parliament
Wednesday 18 June 2008
read a report of the meeting below, or download in pdf format from Migrant Rights Network
Summary
The Migrants’ Rights Network (MRN) in conjunction with UNISON Overseas Nurses Network (ONN) and the STUC held a meeting in the Scottish Parliament, with the aim of giving MSPs [...]