Blog
Sep 6, 2010
The French resident and his Italian government allies are keen to see how free movement rights can be reigned back in Europe. They have invited a select group of immigration chiefs to discuss this in Paris today. I've blogged my views on what this is all about on the New Statesman's blogsite 'The Staggers'. Have a look at that and feed in your comments and experiences....
Here's the link to article on the New Statesman's website.....
Sep 3, 2010
Our colleagues at NHS Newham have produced an information video on how to access health services in the borough. Even though focused on Newham, it could be useful to migrant groups in other boroughs.
Accessing health is an important issue for migrants, especially those who are new to the country. Primary health care is a term used to describe GPs, Dentists and Pharmacists and in the UK it is generally the first point of contact with health services. Accessing primary health should be possible for everyone who lives in the UK. It is important to access healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS) as this can prevent serious health consequences for people. However, a number of migrants do not access primary health either because they do not know how to or they encounter barriers in doing so.
Sep 3, 2010
London’s mayor once again states that he backs the idea of granting citizenship to long-term irregular migrants. But what can he do to push the agenda in the areas where he has influence?
Last night, at a City Hall reception to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the independence struggles in Latin America, Mayor Boris Johnson reiterated his support for a pathway into legality for irregular migrants. Boris has not shied away from the issue and I have heard him pledge his support for a regularisation on at least two more public occasions in the past year (at the launch of the mayor’s refugee integration strategy last December and at the Integrating Cities conference in February). Last night he stated that he continued to support a regularisation despite opposition from the Conservative party during the last election.
Sep 2, 2010
Immigration minister, Damian Green, will be making his first major speech setting out the plans of the coaltion government in this area of policyat a meeting at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London, on Monday 6th September.
The Home Office's invitation to attend has been opened to the public - here it is....
Aug 27, 2010
The latest batch of immigration statistics, laying out the figures for 2009, have been reported with outrage in the media. Reports claim that immigration levels are on the up in the UK, as well as the fears that the student route is being ‘abused’. But a closer look at the figures indicates that this may all be a bit of a storm in a teacup.
This week, the Office for National Statistics released its quarterly immigration figures for 2009. The figures show that net long-term immigration to the UK rose by 20% from 163,000 in 2008, to 196,000 in 2009 – and this has been spun in media including the Telegraph (Immigration jumps amid surge in student visas) and Daily Mirror (200,000 new immigrants in Britain as foreign students flock to UK) as representing an overall ‘jump in immigration’ to the UK. This is not only scaremongering, but is sending a message that is just plain wrong.
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