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| Nick Clegg abandons illegal immigrant amnesty proposal | Nick Clegg abandons illegal immigrant amnesty proposal |
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| Nick Clegg announced on Friday that he was abandoning the Liberal Democrats' support for a so-called amnesty for illegal immigrants, one of the central planks of his party's 2010 election manifesto. | Nick Clegg announced on Friday that he was abandoning the Liberal Democrats' support for a so-called amnesty for illegal immigrants, one of the central planks of his party's 2010 election manifesto. |
| The party had promised an earned route to citizenship for any illegal immigrant who had been in the UK for 10 years. But in a wide-ranging speech on immigration, designed to be seen alongside a separate immigration speech from David Cameron due on Monday, Clegg admitted the policy "was seen by many as a reward for breaking the law". | The party had promised an earned route to citizenship for any illegal immigrant who had been in the UK for 10 years. But in a wide-ranging speech on immigration, designed to be seen alongside a separate immigration speech from David Cameron due on Monday, Clegg admitted the policy "was seen by many as a reward for breaking the law". |
| The speeches by the prime minister and his deputy come either side of the Ukip spring conference this weekend in Exeter, and the timing is not coincidental. Cameron will focus on how to remove benefits from some EU migrants. | The speeches by the prime minister and his deputy come either side of the Ukip spring conference this weekend in Exeter, and the timing is not coincidental. Cameron will focus on how to remove benefits from some EU migrants. |
| Clegg said he had asked the former local government minister Andrew Stunell to conduct a review of Lib Dem immigration policy, but he said the earned citizenship policy "risked undermining public confidence in the immigration system" and that confidence in the system was an essential building block of cohesion and tolerance. | Clegg said he had asked the former local government minister Andrew Stunell to conduct a review of Lib Dem immigration policy, but he said the earned citizenship policy "risked undermining public confidence in the immigration system" and that confidence in the system was an essential building block of cohesion and tolerance. |
| Party polling has shown that the so-called amnesty was one of the most unpopular policies they put in front of the electorate, and was seen as a drag in pulling over centre-ground voters. | Party polling has shown that the so-called amnesty was one of the most unpopular policies they put in front of the electorate, and was seen as a drag in pulling over centre-ground voters. |
| Clegg said of the genesis of the policy: "We felt it was an honest and pragmatic solution given the chaos in the Home Office and the obvious failure by Labour to identify where thousands of illegal immigrants were." He added that the party had thought it was better to get illegal immigrants "to pay their taxes and make a proper contribution to our society, than to continue to live in the shadows". | Clegg said of the genesis of the policy: "We felt it was an honest and pragmatic solution given the chaos in the Home Office and the obvious failure by Labour to identify where thousands of illegal immigrants were." He added that the party had thought it was better to get illegal immigrants "to pay their taxes and make a proper contribution to our society, than to continue to live in the shadows". |
| Clegg also revealed he would like to see the maximum fines for employers hiring an illegal immigrant double to £10,000 per illegal worker. He said: "Employers need to get the message: they have an inescapable duty to employ people who are working here legally … Not to turn a blind eye to those working illegally." | Clegg also revealed he would like to see the maximum fines for employers hiring an illegal immigrant double to £10,000 per illegal worker. He said: "Employers need to get the message: they have an inescapable duty to employ people who are working here legally … Not to turn a blind eye to those working illegally." |
| Clegg appeared to be happy with the thrust of Cameron's immigration speech, saying: "It is entirely right that we close loopholes and ensure that the welfare system is not open to abuse." But he insisted that Cameron's speech would be delivered as a Conservative speech, suggesting they have not been able to agree enough to describe it as a speech on behalf of the coalition. | Clegg appeared to be happy with the thrust of Cameron's immigration speech, saying: "It is entirely right that we close loopholes and ensure that the welfare system is not open to abuse." But he insisted that Cameron's speech would be delivered as a Conservative speech, suggesting they have not been able to agree enough to describe it as a speech on behalf of the coalition. |
| Clegg used the speech to propose a bond scheme for immigrants, a policy that was savaged by Keith Vaz, the former Labour immigration minister. | Clegg used the speech to propose a bond scheme for immigrants, a policy that was savaged by Keith Vaz, the former Labour immigration minister. |
| Vaz said a refundable immigration bond scheme for high-risk countries was "unworkable, impractical" and "discriminatory". He added: "I know that Easter is the time for resurrection, but I think that this idea is likely to end in tears, with crucifixion. Because we've tried this before. In fact, I was the entry clearance minister who had the task of selling the bond scheme to the Indians when I was visiting India in 1999 and the reaction was outrage. The problem with the scheme is that it's unworkable, impractical and also it's discriminatory." | Vaz said a refundable immigration bond scheme for high-risk countries was "unworkable, impractical" and "discriminatory". He added: "I know that Easter is the time for resurrection, but I think that this idea is likely to end in tears, with crucifixion. Because we've tried this before. In fact, I was the entry clearance minister who had the task of selling the bond scheme to the Indians when I was visiting India in 1999 and the reaction was outrage. The problem with the scheme is that it's unworkable, impractical and also it's discriminatory." |
| Clegg said he agreed with the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, that politicians must avoid an "arms race of rhetoric" on immigration: "That kind of low populism patronises the British people and is an insult to the many migrants who have contributed to our country," he said. "British society has been shaped by migrant communities in ways more profound than any cliche about chicken tikka masala or Notting Hill carnival or Polish builders can ever express." | Clegg said he agreed with the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, that politicians must avoid an "arms race of rhetoric" on immigration: "That kind of low populism patronises the British people and is an insult to the many migrants who have contributed to our country," he said. "British society has been shaped by migrant communities in ways more profound than any cliche about chicken tikka masala or Notting Hill carnival or Polish builders can ever express." |
| Clegg denied there was a conspiracy of silence on immigration from politicians, saying worries had been met with words, posturing talk and little or no action. He complained: "Plenty's been said. The problem is, not enough's been done." | Clegg denied there was a conspiracy of silence on immigration from politicians, saying worries had been met with words, posturing talk and little or no action. He complained: "Plenty's been said. The problem is, not enough's been done." |
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