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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Lib Dems back migrant 'amnesty' | Lib Dems back migrant 'amnesty' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Plans to offer a "selective" amnesty to illegal immigrants in the UK have been backed at the Lib Dem conference. | Plans to offer a "selective" amnesty to illegal immigrants in the UK have been backed at the Lib Dem conference. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Instead after 10 years they should get the right to earn citizenship, he said. | Instead after 10 years they should get the right to earn citizenship, he said. |
| The Tories said the Lib Dems were "living in a fantasy world" while Labour said it would be "a strong pull for waves of illegal immigration". | The Tories said the Lib Dems were "living in a fantasy world" while Labour said it would be "a strong pull for waves of illegal immigration". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Fantasy politics' | 'Fantasy politics' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy Nick Clegg At a glance: Day Two Delegate views: immigration | I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy Nick Clegg At a glance: Day Two Delegate views: immigration |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | Illegal immigrants would be given an "earned route" to citizenship, beginning with a two-year work permit. |
| 'Twilight world' | 'Twilight world' |
| Party president Simon Hughes said it would end "the perpetual twilight world for those who have been here for so long". | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally Damian GreenShadow immigration minister | These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally Damian GreenShadow immigration minister |
| "I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy," he said. | "I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy," he said. |
| But for the Tories, shadow immigration minister, Damian Green said it was the Liberal Democrats who were living in a "fantasy world". | But for the Tories, shadow immigration minister, Damian Green said it was the Liberal Democrats who were living in a "fantasy world". |
| "These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally. | "These proposals will encourage people to break the law and enter the UK illegally. |
| He added: "This will send out a message that Britain's borders are well and truly open to everyone in the world." | He added: "This will send out a message that Britain's borders are well and truly open to everyone in the world." |
| ID cards | ID cards |
| And for the government, immigration minister Liam Byrne said the introduction of compulsory ID cards would make things tougher for illegal immigrants. | And for the government, immigration minister Liam Byrne said the introduction of compulsory ID cards would make things tougher for illegal immigrants. |
| He added: "I believe those here illegally should go home - not go to the front of the queue for jobs and benefits. | He added: "I believe those here illegally should go home - not go to the front of the queue for jobs and benefits. |
| "That's why we're now deporting someone every eight minutes and doubling our frontline enforcement resources." | "That's why we're now deporting someone every eight minutes and doubling our frontline enforcement resources." |
| Mr Clegg says more should be spent on a new border police force | Mr Clegg says more should be spent on a new border police force |
| The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants congratulated Mr Clegg for promoting "a reasonable debate on an issue which is all too often the subject of emotive sound bites". | The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants congratulated Mr Clegg for promoting "a reasonable debate on an issue which is all too often the subject of emotive sound bites". |
| But chief executive Habib Rahman said the 10-year threshold was too high and recommended a seven-year minimum instead. | But chief executive Habib Rahman said the 10-year threshold was too high and recommended a seven-year minimum instead. |
| "This would logically build on the seven-year policy which already exists for migrants who can demonstrate family relationships, including to children, in the UK," he said. | "This would logically build on the seven-year policy which already exists for migrants who can demonstrate family relationships, including to children, in the UK," he said. |
| Andrew Green from pressure group Migrationwatch said: "I am glad that the Liberal Democrats have backed off claims that an amnesty would save the Treasury money. | |
| "In fact, our calculations show that it would cost £1 billion in the first year and up to £5 billion a year in later years. There is no case for this, especially as anyone granted an amnesty would soon be replaced by others." | |
| The Lib Dems 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. | The Lib Dems 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. | 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. |