UK Borders Bill
1:30 pm
Guy Herbert: NO2ID does not have a view on immigration policy. We could not have a view on immigration policy, because we are an umbrella group that contains people who would like open borders, people who would like all foreigners locked out for ever, and people whose views are everywhere in between. Equally, we do not have any views on the technical powers for immigration officers that will be introduced in the Bill. What we are concerned about is the general tenor of the Bill, particularly the onerous registration procedures, which are connected, as we have illustrated, with a general desire for a population register. Having a register of migrants, a register of visitors, is intrinsically harmful to the public and to the welfare of Britain, whether or not it is extended to a general population register.
We believe that a register will put people off coming here, and that means not just Professor Anderson’s students, but potentially valuable migrant workers, and foreign residents who bring a lot to this country and spend a lot of money here. The policy is incoherent. The Government appear to say, “We welcome immigration and the expansion of our borders and trade with the outside world, but at the same time we will focus resources on inconveniencing the people whom we want here.” The measures will not affect the clandestine immigrant.