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Lib Dems call for migrant amnesty Lib Dems back migrant 'amnesty'
(about 12 hours later)
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg is to call for a "selective" amnesty for illegal immigrants. Plans to offer a "selective" amnesty to illegal immigrants in the UK have been backed at the Lib Dem conference.
Under the plan - to be debated at the party's conference - people who have been in the UK for 10 years will be given the right to earn citizenship. Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was "absurd" to suggest the 500,000 people in Britain illegally could all be deported - at £11,000 a head.
They would have to pass language tests, demonstrate a long-term commitment to the UK and have no criminal record. Instead those who have been in Britain 10 years should get the right to earn citizenship, he told the conference.
Mr Clegg also wants a new border security force to prevent people entering the country illegally. Ministers have repeatedly rejected calls for an amnesty, arguing it would send out the wrong signal.
The government has said it does not know how many illegal immigrants are in the UK. The government says it does not know how many illegal immigrants are in the UK. However, pressure group Migration Watch puts the figure at between 515,000 and 870,000.
Pressure group Migration Watch puts the figure at between 515,000 and 870,000. 'Fantasy politics'
But ministers have repeatedly rejected calls for an amnesty, arguing it would send out the wrong signal and act as magnet for migrants from poorer countries. Mr Clegg said it was "fantasy politics" to discuss mass deportation of the "underclass" of people who do not pay tax, lack employment rights and access to healthcare and banking - when the government does not know where most of them are.
Controversy Rather than spend billions trying to deport them all, it would be better to have a new border police force and focus enforcement efforts on people traffickers and criminals, he said.
Mr Clegg is expected to argue that the massive increase in global migration has created a new "underclass" of illegal workers without employment rights or access to public services. I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy Nick Clegg class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6999618.stm">At a glance: Day Two
But rather than spending billions of pounds on trying to deport all of them, he will argue the government should spend the money on strengthening border controls and tackling people trafficking.
And people who have settled in the UK with their families should be given a chance to become citizens.And people who have settled in the UK with their families should be given a chance to become citizens.
Under the Lib Dem plan they would have to pass language tests, demonstrate a long-term commitment to the UK and have no criminal record.
There would also be a charge - possibly of several thousand pounds - or a requirement do community service.
Illegal immigrants would be given an "earned route" to citizenship, beginning with a two-year work permit.
'Twilight world'
Party president Simon Hughes said it would end "the perpetual twilight world for those who have been here for so long".
A Lib Dem source denied the plan would lead to an increase in illegal immigration - but admitted it would not go down well with anti-migration campaigners.A Lib Dem source denied the plan would lead to an increase in illegal immigration - but admitted it would not go down well with anti-migration campaigners.
"There are some people who are going to be upset with us about it, but we are never going to avoid controversy." These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally Damian GreenShadow immigration minister
Under Mr Clegg's plan illegal immigrants will be given an "earned route" to citizenship, beginning with a two-year work permit. Mr Clegg said while the Tories and Labour were locked in a "nasty" bidding war over who could be the toughest on immigration, the Lib Dems should stand up for "freedom, tolerance and diversity".
'Hammering' "I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy," he said.
The Lib Dems are also expected to back proposals to cut the basic income tax rate by 4p, on the third day of their annual conference in Brighton. But for the Tories, shadow immigration minister, Damian Green said it was the Liberal Democrats who were living in a "fantasy world".
The plan would see an increase in green taxes - including a £10 charge on short haul flights and £2,000 road tax for gas-guzzling vehicles. Income tax cut
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable also wants to target the rich by ending taper relief on capital gains tax and introducing a local income tax. "These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally.
"Other countries have tried amnesties and have had to have five or more.
"This will send out a message that Britain's borders are well and truly open to everyone in the world."
The party also wants work permits for non-EU nationals to be made more expensive for employers, so the money can be spent on training up British workers for other jobs.
On the second full day of their annual conference, the Lib Dems backed proposals to cut the basic income tax rate by 4p, scrap council tax and increase green taxes - including a £10 charge on short haul flights and £2,000 road tax for gas-guzzling vehicles.
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable wants to target the rich by ending taper relief on capital gains tax and introducing a local income tax.
But he appeared to distance himself from comments by party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who when asked if the Lib Dem proposals mean the top 10% of earning would get a "hammering," replied "yes".But he appeared to distance himself from comments by party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who when asked if the Lib Dem proposals mean the top 10% of earning would get a "hammering," replied "yes".
"I wouldn't use that language," Mr Cable told BBC2's Today at Conference, "we want a fairer tax system but I certainly don't want to hammer them." "I wouldn't use that language," Mr Cable told BBC2's Today at Conference. "We want a fairer tax system but I certainly don't want to hammer them."
It comes amid another welter of negative headlines for Sir Menzies, with some newspapers claiming he made a gaffe during a question and answer session on Monday.
During a conversation with comedian Sandi Toksvig about performance-related nerves, he joked that he must be a "failure" as she was not nervous talking to him.