A new legislation in affect from 6th April states that migrants from outside the European Union, coming to live in the UK for more than 6 months will be required to pay a 'health surcharge' when they make their application. It will also be paid by non European Union nationals who will apply to extend their stay- making the situation further hostile towards immigrants. The health surcharge will be £200 per year and £150 per year for students, payable upfront and for the total period of time for which migrants are given permission to stay in the UK.
This can perhaps be considered as the final nail in the coffin for a staggering Indo-British relation, especially after the Rafale deal with France, has already turned the situation sour.
For decades immigrants such as Indians, have been an integral part of the British working class. Britain has thrived on multiculturalism, yet today it has been regarded as an elitist concept. A generation ago 'integration' was an issue. But it's hardly a problem in this day and era- especially amongst the British Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Jews. In fact cultural differences amongst the ethnic minorities hardly stand as a threat to 'Britishness'.
Kavya Kaushik in the New Statesman wrote that the immigration debates that have continued longer than needed has been spiraling into a toxic swamp propelled by cross party consensus to “control immigration”. Very rightly said. The current anti immigrant debate has stooped to a new low, targeting second generations of immigrants- classifying these British born ethnic minorities as the 'hidden migrants' .
Nick Clegg in his interview with Evan Davis spoke about his European heritage, his Dutch mother and cross community upbringing- and got immediately asked if his 'multi-cultural upbringing' put him 'out of touch' with the 'British' people. Clegg's furious reaction mirrored the rage many second generation of immigrants constantly feel- especially after their whole life being born and bred as British first.
The Britishness of the BME community is constantly being a questioned- something that is unacceptable, after their generations of contributions to the British society, especially after the richest man in the UK is an Indian. It perhaps makes one question, if the BME community continues to be looked upon as slaves- unfit for an equal status, just on the basis of race- despite years of tax paying, creating jobs, serving the Queen- especially treating this country as their own.
According Kaushal, casual racism is on the rise, particularly within politics. On the doorstep a BME canvasser is increasingly likely to hear "I don't want your people here", and worse. These experiences lead to racial sensitivity and passing comments questioning multiculturalism vs Britishness can be interpreted as a personal attack when coupled with modern attitudes to race in Britain.
Ex Gloucestershire MP Parmjit Dhanda recently launched his book 'My Political Race'. Speaking to the Indian Journalists' Association he was asked what discouraged him to go back politics after 2010. He said, “My family and I have had enough.” His experience as a second generation British Indian tells us of the first hand the 'racism' we still face. As Parmjit and his family strove to put their lives back together after the 2010 general election defeat, there was a knock on the door one Sunday morning in Gloucester. A frightened-looking lady stood there shaking, distressed. She had a dog on the end of the lead that was pulling her body away towards one of the cars outside the house. A decapitated pig’s head had been left in the middle of the drive. After nine years’ service people didn’t even realise Parmjit was actually a Sikh and not a Muslim. But prejudice doesn’t make these distinctions.
The Ugandan exile made Britain home for many immigrants. But it was almost two generations ago. The discussions of identity, culture, and language are still quite raw for many British migrant communities. Fueled by the rising anti immigrant sentiment, communities are continuously feeling unwanted.
Even if we overlook UKIP's hostile agenda towards migrants, certain Tory plans are scary enough- like their isuggestion of 'migrant bond'. On the other hand Labour’s anti-immigration stance appears odd too. The Guardian reports, “...Could you hand Labour’s 'controls on immigration' mug to a guest? There’s nothing like jollying up a Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning by making your neighbours feel like the pakoras were a little unwelcome.”
We actually cannot forget where our coffee and tea come from. We also cannot forget in whose hands our future rests, in this forthcoming general election. Reports predict that the ethnic minorities are to determine the fate of UK's governing party.
Therefore the hypocrisy of a colonising nation like Britain, towards its immigrants is unacceptable. This is what happens when you don’t understand or even acknowledge history- and live in a perpetual self-glorification. This country have streets named after slave owners, have profited from a vile crime over centuries, and feel no shame. Yet Britain's political parties fear the arrival of immigrants, that the country has drawn with the wealth they actually stole from them.
