Time for the 'Regularization' of all 'irregular' migrants?

"Deporting hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants, particularly those who have been in the UK for many years, is simply not feasible or desirable"

An independent think tank, the *'Institute for Public Policy Research' (IPPR), has issued a report called 'Irregular migration in the UK'. In it they say: 'deporting hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants, particularly those who have been in the UK for many years, is simply not feasible or desirable.'

"Nobody likes illegal immigration. And the subject is a deeply difficult one for politicians to tackle. But the bare truth is that we are not going to deport hundreds of thousands of people from the UK. Our economy would shrink and we would notice it straightaway in uncleaned offices, dirty streets and unstaffed pubs and clubs. So we have a choice: make people live in the shadows, exploited and fearful for the future; or bring them into the mainstream, to pay taxes and live an honest life." Nick Pearce, Director IPPR.

Backed up with well-reasoned argument, the report should make compelling reading for Charles Clarke, Tony McNulty and especially the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Simply put, IPPR argue that regularising those already here without papers would economically benefit us all. At present those working without permission may be working for "cash in hand" and only contribute tax revenues through VAT when they buy goods with the money they earn. Having status would allow them to work legally and pay income tax. IPPR estimate that this could put an extra £1 billion a year into the Treasury. Where as the cost of trying to deport those without status might cost around £4.7 billion. Spain, who have regularized their undocumented workers, estimate that their economy benefited to the tune of £750 million last year and expect that to rise to £1,350 million this year.

10.2% of taxes raised each year come from regularized economic migrants. Though they only represent 8.7% of the population, they pay an average of £7,203 compared with £6,861 of the resident population.

Not taken into account by the statisticians are the vast numbers of irregular migrants who are on firm's payrolls and pay full income tax. We are more than sure the Inland Revenue are well aware of this and have been for decades but have never complained.

IPPR research has been thorough and though not an argument for economic migration, it is a convincing argument that those irregular migrants already here should become economic residents.

NCADC welcomed the family amnesty but felt it should have been an amnesty for all claiming/failed asylum seekers and irregular migrants in the UK. We hope Charles, Tony and Gordon read the IPPR report, take serious note of its contents and our message to the trio is:

It is time for the 'Regularization' of all irregular migrants

John O for NCADC

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*The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is the UK's leading progressive think tank and was established in 1988. Its role is to bridge the political divide between the social democratic and liberal traditions, the intellectual divide between academia and the policy making establishment and the cultural divide between government and civil society. It is first and foremost a research institute, aiming to provide innovative and credible policy solutions. Its work, the questions its research poses, and the methods it uses are driven by the belief that the journey to a good society is one that places social justice, democratic participation, economic and environmental sustainability at its core.
http://www.ippr.org.uk/