4.4) (1985-c2010) immigration as a political issue Flashcards
when did britain join the EEC?
1973
how did the EU’s free movement of people impact the UK’s population and economy? and why?
- according to the 2011 census, the UK pop. grew 3.7 million in 10 years
- UK citizens took advantage of this by working in the EU, buying property or moving for retirement
why did people support the free movement of people? // how would it benefit the economy?
- it meant that employers could find workers they need to grow their business
- more tax would be collected from employees and the larger number of workers
- increased shopping would make the country richer and create more jobs
what did free movement mean from eastern european arrivals?
- when 10 new nations joined the EU in 2004, the labour government adopted an ‘open door’ policy
- this led to 300,000 people moving to the UK by 2004 (mainly from poland)
where did the easten europeans live and work after 2006?
- they spread out all over the country, unlike previous immigrant groups
- mainly worked in hospitality and construction
- many of them were highly skilled and well-educated
when were controls imposed on migration from eastern europe?
- after the 2008 banking crisis, many returned home due to britain’s weakening economy and under-resourced health and education services
- when romania and bulgaria joined the EU in 2007. the government said that their nationals had to have work permits and they restricted numbers for 7 years
why did some people not support free movement?
- anti-immigration feeling grew in working-class communities due to austerity and rising wealth inequality
- many felt that their wages were being undercutted by immigrants and putting pressure on school and housing -> hence support grew for UKIP
why did economists argue that free movement was good for britain?
- migrants did low-paid jobs that powered the economy and kept inflation down
- tax revenue was needed to pay for the pensions and healthcare of the aging population
- if finance, good and jobs could move freely through europe, so should people
what is some data that shows immigration was beneficial to the economy?
- gov report 2007: immigration contributed 6 billion to the UK economy
- 2009 UCL reported that immigration had a great benefit as it paid far more in tax than it received in benefits
how did the number of asylum seekers increase between the 1990s and 2000s?
- conflicts in south-east europe, west and east africa and western asia caused a mass movement of refugees to europe.
- some sought asylum in the UK → asylum applications rose at the end of the 20th century from 4,256 in 1987 to 84,130 in 2002
reasons for this: fleeing civil wars (somalia, afghanistan), foreign intervention (afghanistan, iraq, syria) and the collapse of the soviet union
why did britain accept refugees? and under what terms?
- 1948 - british gov. signed the UN declaration of rights, which stated that ‘everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution’
what was the 1985 schengen agreement?
- there were open borders and no passport control between most european countries
- meant that anyone could travel easily and successfully throughout europe
what were public attitudes to refugees like?
- there was growing feeling against asylum seekers was fuelled by the british national party and national newspapers
- the media referred to it as a ‘migrant invasion’ and suggested that asylum seekers were only in the UK to seek benefits
- these widely spread beliefs led the benefits system to be closed to asylum seekers
why were the asylum and immifration acts introduced?
- more and more people were applying for refugee status due to worsening conflicts in other parts of the world
- these made immigration from outside of the EU harder
what was the 1993 asylum and immigration appeals act?
made the definition of the term ‘refugee’ much narrower and more specific to alter who would/could be deemed a refugee
what was the 1996 asylum and immigration act?
it became a criminal offence to hire migrant workers without a work permit
what was the 1999 immigration and asylum act?
- it replaced welfare benefits for asylum seekers with vouchers to buy food and essentials.
- the amount was not much and they were forced to buy food from only certain shops
what was the 2002 nationality, immigration and asylum act?
meant that anyone who seeked to become a british citizen had to pass a ‘life in united kingdom’ test
what were some reasons that sykum seekers chose to come to the UK?
only 1/3 chose to come to the UK and this was because:
- they could speak english
- family members already in the UK
- colonial links beteween home country and the UK
- believed that britain was safe and stable
how were political refugees and asylum seekers treated?
- many were detained in the over 40 detention centres with terrible conditions
- they couldn’t choose where to live and instead were put in accomodation that no one else wanted
- 1/5 of women experienced sexual violence after arrived
why was the UK accused of being a ‘soft touch’?
- it was estimated that 280,000 people, who had been refused asylum, were still living and working illegally in the UK with no access to benefits
- the press argued that these were economic migrants who earnt more here
- others said that their work in low-paid jobs contributed to britain’s economic boom
how did britain attempt to control people illegally entering the UK?
- border controls were tightened
- people were deterred from trying to get to the UK
- measures taken against the families, landlords and employers of asylum seekers who failed to get refgee status
what was the ‘war on terror’ and when did it start?
- the war on terror was an invasion of iraq by the US (george w.bush) following the 9/11 attacks
- bush states that its aim was to remove weapons of mass destruction
- there were 151,000 deaths as a result of this war
why did the british parliament vote to join the ‘war on terror’?
the british parliament voted to join the ‘war on terror’ following the 7/7 bombings in london
what happened in the 7/7 attacks?
- 4 suicide bombers killed 52 and injured 700
- they blamed the british involvement in the invasion of iraq
how did londoners respond to the 7/7 attacks?
they stressed the unity of the citizens across cultures and religions to come together in grief and take pride in the city’s diversity
how did 7/7 attack lead to a rise in islamophobic incidents?
- after the attack the press began to demonise the entire religion rather than focus on the minority with radical beliefs and this encouraged racist groups like the EDL and BNP
- parties like BNP were also successful in local and european elections suggesting that they were gradually gaining support
what were two racist/islamphobic groups and what did they do?
- BNP: the british national party - it was set up by members of the former national front
- EDL: english defence league - a far right islamophobic group
- they attacked areas where lots of muslims lived and tried to imitate the attacks of mosely’s facists in the 1930s
what were two organisations that responded to the attacks of the BNP and EDL?
- hope not hate and unite against fascism
- they [anti-racist protestors] faced the fascists who were marching through areas of large muslim populations in greater numbers
what was the government’s ‘prevent strategy’?
- it was a scheme to stop young people from becoming terrorists and it was aimed at young muslims
- some saw it as a necessary means to counter extremism
- others felt that it was divisive and wouldn’t have the desired effect
what is extremism?
the holding of extreme political or religious views
why was there also a rise in anti-semitic feeling at this time? (2000s)
- there was a rise in anti-semitic incidents partly linked to the israel-palestine conflict
what are some arguments that support the idea that immigrants have brought problems to the UK?
- pressure on housing, schools, resources etc
- destabilisation of the area
- overpopulation
what are some arguments that support the idea that immigrants have brought benefits to the UK?
- immigrants pay taxes so the economy benefits - in order to pay the pensions of the older aging population
- immigrants are more willing to do low-paid, low-skilled jobs
- more young people entering the workforce
- more diverse communities, less tension and divide