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