Press Release

Assembly backs earned citizenship for irregular migrants
8-10-2008   520

The London Assembly is urging the Government to introduce a scheme to allow irregular migrants to earn UK citizenship.

Assembly Members today passed a motion supporting a one-off, time limited route to citizenship for irregular migrants who have been living in the UK for many years.  The motion also calls on Mayor of London Boris Johnson to join the Assembly in lobbying for the introduction of such a scheme.

Proposing the motion Darren Johnson Am told the Assembly:

“At current deportation rates it would take 25 years to remove irregular migrants from the UK, people who could be contributing up to £1bn of increased tax receipts if their status was regularised.  What we are proposing is not unlimited immigration under the cloak of a blanket amnesty but rather a limited scheme that will provide a pathway to earned citizenship for people who demonstrate a commitment to contributing fully to our society and economy.”

The full text of the motion is as follows:

"This Assembly notes the election commitment given by the current Mayor and other leading contenders in support of a one-off, time-limited, earned regularisation of suitable irregular migrants, many of whom live and work in London, which would allow those who have been in the UK for many years to be admitted to a two-year pathway to citizenship.

This Assembly now resolves to make representations to the UK Government in support of such a regularisation, and calls on the Mayor to join it in making these representations, including by commissioning supporting evidence regarding the impact on London from GLA Economics."

Notes to Editors

1. The motion received 12 votes in favour  (Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green), 5 votes against (Conservative and BNP) and one abstention (Conservative).
2. The meeting can be viewed via webcast at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp
3. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For more details please contact Mark Demery in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 5769/4603.  For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.

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