A New Tory Offensive Enlivened by the Ethnic Diversity of Its Minorities

- -Globe-trotting ing more, not less, coloured immigratio~.. BRITAIN A non-racist view might also suggest that British culture, bogged down in its tradi- tional, introverted insularity, can be A New Tory Offensive enlivened by the ethnic diversity of its minorities. Finally, an analysis which sees A bleak,future for harassed immig~rants the underdevelopment of the Third World as a function of British and world capitalism S the British welfare state reels under might recognise immigration control as yet Mrs Thatcher's ruthless cuts in public another form of imperialism: a system A spending, there is grim suspense about whereby Western capitalism can exploit where the 'Iron Maiden's' axe will fall next. an international labour market, importing The Asian community, in particular, has cheap 'guest-workers' from the Third World, never felt more threatened since coloured without bearing the social costs involved immigration first became a political issue by the acquisition of citizenship rights. in 1960. Last year, Margaret Thatcher Legislation: None of these arguments, publicly stated that British culture was however, will figure in the coming parlia- being 'swamped' by immigration; and the mentary debate on immigration and Tories swept to power with an election nationality; for the new Tory proposals manifesto that included specific promises alm, not at liberalising or rationalising the to curb this 'threat'. existing law, but at strengthening its worst The Tories, of course, are not alone features, while Labour opposition is mainly in their belief that coloured immigration concerned with maintaining the status quo. is a problem. The Labour Party long ago The present Tory offensive against coloured . abandoned its commitment to a multi- immigrants falls into two broad categories: racial Britain when the Wilson Government legislative and administrative. both enforced and tightened up the Tory The government is committed to Immigration Act of 1962, which first in- introducing a new Nationality Bill in the stitutionalised racial discrimination in autumn session of Parliament. Based, immigration policy. Since then, racialist ironically, on a Green Paper published by immigration control has been a bipartisan the previous Labour government, the Bill policy, operated by Labour and Tory is expected to introduce a two-tier system of governments alike. British Citizens and British Overseas It was a Labour government that was Citizens. The former, mainly patrials, will responsible for the Immigration Act of be full citizens with rights of entry, residence 1968 which rendered British passport-hold- and employment. The latters, mainly non- ing Asians in Africa virtually stateless by patrial, coloured UK passport-holders withdrawing their right of entry to Britain. abroad, will have no such rights. The group In 1971, a Tory government further in- most directly affected will be UK passport- stitutionalised racialism in yet another holding Asians from Africa, 25,000 of whom Immigration Act, reserving the right of are still in India awaiting admission to entry for patrial (i.e. white) British subjects Britain. and banning all future immigration from Also threatened is the status of non- the coloured 'New Commonwealth', exceet patrial, coloured immigrants, permanently for dependents of those already settled in settled here, who would normally have Britain. Though the Labour Party in op- qualified for full citizenship. A further position condemned the act and voted complication has been introduced by Enoch against it, the next Labour government Powell's demand that the new Bill must saw no inconsistency in retaining and also abolish dual nationality, a measure which would force many immigrants to enforcing it. Tl~atcher:goodbye to immigrants Features: Apart from its built-in racial choose between citizenship of their country discrimination, the two most objectionable liberties and the rule of law. But the two of origin and a second-class British citizen- features of the 1971 Act are, first, that it major political parties have continued to ship. places bona fide immigrants and their debate the issue within an implicitly racist Also on the cards is legislation to dependents at the mercy of arbitrary im- framework. While both Labour and Tory amend the existing immigration rules in migration officials with wide discretionary officially dissociate themselves from the a more restrictive direction. The right of powers and, secondly, that it gives the 'extremism' of Enoch Powell and the neo- entry of husbands and fiancks of female police force carte blanche to harass and fascist National Front, both accept the British citizens is to be revoked, an obvious victimise the immigrant community here. racist assumption that coloured immigration blow at the arranged marriage system Police powers for dealing with illegal im- is harmful per se and that the solution lies, currently operated by British Asians. As migration include the right to imprison not in fighting white prejudice and ignorance, Mrs Thatcher bluntly put it, Asian women people.indefinitely on mere suspicion. Every but in curbing the numbers of immigrants. in Britain must either find husbands already year, hundreds of bona fide immigrants An economic appraisal of the contri- here or else go to their husbands' homes in are subjected to such arrests, against which bution of immigrants to British industry the subcontinent. there is no recourse to the courts. and social services, based on an objective Controls: The present rule granting Anti-racist groups in Britain have long cost-output ratio, would conclude that free entry and residence after four years urged the repeal of the 1971 Act as being Britain, a country with annual net emigra- in approved employment on a work-permit racist, arbitrary and subversive of civil tion, stands to gain materially by encourag- is also to be abolished. In future, work- INDIA TODAY, OCTOBER 1-1 5, 1979 - - Globe-trotting- permits- will have to be annually renewed. the fact that discriminatory immigration regardless of length of employment, and laws are themselves the most glaring fonn migrant workers will thus be permanently of institutionalised racism, affecting the barred from claiming social security bene- most basic rights of virtually every coloured fits, despite their tax contributions to the household in Britain. The results achieved British State. Coupled with a recent amend- by the race relations 'industry' have there- ment raising from six months to one year fore been marginal at best, curbing the the period after which employers are liable more overt kinds of discrimination and for unfair dismissal of workers, this change providing some financial assistance to min- would place migrant workers entirely at the ority organisations. The Thatcher Govern- mercy of employers, whose goodwill is ment, however, seems to regard even such essential for renewal of work-permits. token assistance to the anti-racist cause Since the 1971 Immigration Act leaves as being unnecessary. The Commission wide discretionary powers with the Home for Racial Equality, set up by the previous Office, changes in administrative policy will government, has just had its budget cut be as crucial as the above legislation. by over El million (Rs 18 million) and has Already, since the change of government, been asked to effect the necessary economies immigration officers have been exercising by withdrawing assistance to Asian and West their power to refuse entry in a noticeably Indian self-help projects. harsher fashion, The Government is also Perhaps the only positive aspect of committed to increased 'internal control' Tharcherite policy on immigration and race of illegal immigration, an euphemism for is that it makes explicit what was previously stepping up the already notorious police glossed over with humanitarian rhetoric: harassment and surveillance of coloured ment runs, arlses from a 'natural' British namely, that racially discriminatory people. To cap it all, Timothy Raison, the fear of being 'swamped' by growing numbers immigration control guarantees British minister responsible for immigration, has of aliens. Therefore, stop all fresh immigra- capitalism access to cheap labour, while publicly proposed changing the appeals tion, concentrate on the 'assimilation' of denying the latter the rights and benefits of procedure to eliminate direct appeals to the those already here, and racial conflict will citizenship. Such institutionalised racism minister by MPs acting on behalf of their disappear. As part of this approach, the panders not only to the irrational racial fears immigrant constituents. imposition of tighter immigration controls whipped up by Powell and the National One of the most spurious arguments has gone hand in hand with the anti- Front, but also to the material interests of traditionally advanced in favour of immigra- discrimination Race Relations Acts of 1968 British employers who seek an unorganised, tion control by both Labour and Tory and 1976 and the setting up of a large race captive work-force that can be underpaid, spokesmen has been its allegedly beneficial relations 'industry' to implement them. fired and deported at will. effect on race relations. Racism, the argu- Legalised: Such a strategy overlooks -ZAREER MASANI in London CANADA was the police department. there." Police Brutality: In the past year alone Said Abdul Karim of Pakistan: "We Rae s Pol e ul e ,he have killed eight people, most of are never safe alone. Instead of going to work OME key cities in Canada have been them under very questionable circumstances. and back all by myself, there are four of us S slipping off their thin veil of sophist~ca- But unlike the past seven deaths, the eighth who travel in a pack. There are some who are tlon and tolerance towards coloured corn- one (of Johnson) has not been allowed to be taking to guns to protect their families munities and are teetering on the verge of a washed away because of the massive public and property. You have to see things major racial conflict. Perhaps in no other outcry. to belleve them.

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