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Lib Dems torpedo May's plan to impose visa bonds on 'high-risk' visitors Lib Dems torpedo May's plan to impose visa bonds on 'high-risk' visitors
(about 3 hours later)
The Home Office has scrapped plans to make visitors considered to be of high risk of overstaying visas pay bonds of £3,000 each before entering Britain after the Liberal Democrats raised objections. The Home Office has scrapped plans to make visitors considered to be of high risk of overstaying visas pay bonds of £3,000 each before entering Britain, after the Liberal Democrats raised objections.
Theresa May, the home secretary, had been planning to bring in trials of the new system by the end of the year to stop some visitors staying in the UK after their visas expired. The scheme would have been targeted at visitors from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Nigeria who wanted six-month visas.Theresa May, the home secretary, had been planning to bring in trials of the new system by the end of the year to stop some visitors staying in the UK after their visas expired. The scheme would have been targeted at visitors from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Nigeria who wanted six-month visas.
Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem deputy prime minister, helped announce the scheme earlier this year but later threatened to block it if it was applied in an "indiscriminate way". He had indicated he would support it as a way to allow extra visitors to come to Britain, but not if it would impose a burden on people who would currently get approval to enter the country.Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem deputy prime minister, helped announce the scheme earlier this year but later threatened to block it if it was applied in an "indiscriminate way". He had indicated he would support it as a way to allow extra visitors to come to Britain, but not if it would impose a burden on people who would currently get approval to enter the country.
Clegg told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show earlier this year: "Of course in a coalition I can stop things. I am absolutely not interested in a bond which becomes an indiscriminate way of clobbering people who want to come to this country, and in many respects bring great prosperity and benefits to this country, of course not."Clegg told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show earlier this year: "Of course in a coalition I can stop things. I am absolutely not interested in a bond which becomes an indiscriminate way of clobbering people who want to come to this country, and in many respects bring great prosperity and benefits to this country, of course not."
It is the second pilot scheme from May's department to be abandoned in recent weeks following opposition from the Lib Dems, as ministers have said they will not proceed with controversial plans for vans urging illegal immigrants to "go home or face arrest". It is the second pilot scheme from May's department to be abandoned in recent weeks following opposition from the Lib Dems, as ministers have said they will not proceed with plans for vans urging illegal immigrants to "go home or face arrest".
A Home Office spokesman said: "The government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We have decided not to proceed."A Home Office spokesman said: "The government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We have decided not to proceed."
The idea proved unpopular in India in particular and was condemned as "highly discriminatory" by business leaders. Keith Vaz, the chairman of the home affairs committee, also described it as unfair and discriminatory. The idea proved unpopular in India in particular and was condemned as "highly discriminatory" by business leaders. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, described it as unfair and discriminatory.
Some countries threatened to retaliate by demanding high-value deposits from British tourists. The scheme was a major plank of the government's promise to cut migration from the hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands by the next election.Some countries threatened to retaliate by demanding high-value deposits from British tourists. The scheme was a major plank of the government's promise to cut migration from the hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands by the next election.
David Hanson, Labour's shadow immigration minister, said Theresa May is "all over the place and presiding over an immigration policy in chaos". David Hanson, Labour's shadow immigration minister, said Theresa May was "all over the place and presiding over an immigration policy in chaos".
"Within a week of the Home Office briefing that they would be introducing £3,000 bonds for family visitors to the UK from 'high risk' countries the policy was briefed against by No10 and now it is officially dead and an ex-policy," he said. "Within a week of the Home Office briefing that they would be introducing £3,000 bonds for family visitors to the UK from 'high risk' countries the policy was briefed against by No 10 and now it is officially dead and an ex-policy," he said.
"Chasing headlines followed by confusion and U-turn is no way to manage an effective and robust immigration policy that works for all concerned.""Chasing headlines followed by confusion and U-turn is no way to manage an effective and robust immigration policy that works for all concerned."
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