Prime Minister David Cameron in his initial days of governance, spoken extensively about the Big Society, he dreams to create. In that one key ingredient was a diverse and multicultural Britain- which however seems foreign, given his party's oblivious approach towards some important demographic differences.
A survey has suggested that the Tories still lag far behind Labour among large parts of multicultural Britain, despite efforts to appeal ethnic voters. A recent analysis by the YouGov has shocked the party by suggesting that the Conservatives have made almost no progress among ethnic minority voters since the last elections.
According this study of responses from 4200 ethnic minority voters, Labour is 64 points ahead among Bangladeshi Britons and 56 point ahead among Pakistanis. While the support among white British has fallen by 4% points since 2010, it has dropped by 6% points amongst Black Caribbean and by 9% points amongst Pakistanis. The fall among Bangladeshis is slightly smaller. Despite this, the gulf between Labour and the Tories remain huge.
The largest ethnic minority group in Britain are the British Indians, with a population of 1.4mn. Amongst them, Labour remains on top, but the gap is smaller than in other groups, while the Tories have achieved a 1% increase in support from Indians since 2010.
As per a study by the think tank British Future, the Tories could have won a majority in 2010, but only 16% of ethnic minority supported them. Lord Ashcroft has suggested that the political outlook of ethnic minority voters remain closely connected with a historical perception of the class identity. Labour has had traditionally better record selecting non white candidates and improving their relations with Asian and black communities.
The PM has tried to bridge this gap by engaging Priti Patel MP as the Indian Diaspora Champion and also Alok Sharma MP as a black and ethnic minority champion, yet the reports clearly suggest, he has not succeeded much.
Peter Kellner, President of YouGov feels while studies show hopes for Conservative, part of difference between white and ethnic minority loyalties flows from difference in their age profiles. One in three voters who are 60+ will vote for Conservative compared to well under 10% of ethnic minorities from the same age group. However younger people, for example graduates are more likely to vote for Conservatives than those without degrees. Mixed race voters are far less likely to vote Labour than those without any white parents or grandparents. Thet are more likely to vote for Lib Dems, SNP and UKIPs.
Some MPs fear that efforts to hang on to voters tempted by UKIP, the Tories have led to immoderate language on immigration.
Baroness Warsi the former Tory Chairman, claimed last month that the government has not engaged with the Muslims properly resulting into resentment and mistrust.
Every week till the general elections on 7 May, Asian Voice promises to discuss one of the several key issues affecting the diaspora. This week we plan to take a quick look at the immigration policies in the party manifestos, so that our readers know what their stands should be.
Immigration policies in party manifestos
In the past two decades, the UK has experienced a steady flow of net migrants into the economy. A data from the ONS suggests that net long-term migration to the UK was estimated to be 260,000 in the year ending June 2014. In the past five years, the UK population has been boosted by net migration of around 1,000,000. In 2011, the top 3 countries for source of migrants was India, China and Pakistan.
The politicians and parties are of course using the subject in an attempt to appear tough on the matter, trying to protect the money and opportunities for the domestic market.
Hence, a quick look on the immigration policies in different party manifestos, will help us to gauge better about our future, when we choose one party over the other in the upcoming elections.
The Conservatives
The Tories have been claiming that they are in they are the best qualified of the parties when it comes to improving the economy. The points in their manifesto are similar to the ideas they have been floating around for the last few years. They say they will;
- Cut net immigration from outside the EU to levels not seen since the late 1990s to ease pressure on public services
- Introduce a new British Citizens Test with British values at its heart.
- Clamp down on benefits tourism and health tourism to only welcome those who want to work hard and contribute.
When David Cameron gave his speech outlining these ideas in November he was criticised by a range of organisations. Katja Hall, Deputy Director of the CBI said the plans on benefit tourism could have a negative affect on the economy saying. "Immigration has helped keep the wheels of this recovery turning by plugging skills shortages and allowing UK firms to grow.” she added,
"Freedom of movement to work is essential to businesses getting access to the best talent and equally offers British citizens the chance to take up a job anywhere across the EU.” This is not the first time that the business community have questioned the tactics of the Conservatives.
The Labour Party
The immigration policies outlined in the Labour manifesto are focused on the problems they see in the work force and labour market. They believe that part of the responsibility for improving the immigration system lies with the employers, since most immigrants who come to the country are trying to find work. Their policies are;
- Tackling exploitation and undercutting by employers.
- Ending the practice of only advertising jobs for foreign workers. Close the loop holes that allow employers to undercut the minimum wage.
- Make sure large firms take on an apprentice every time they hire a skilled non EU worker.
- Criminalise the exploitation of workers.
- Count the number of people coming in or out to ensure that law breakers who overstay their visas can be sent home.
- Introduce a minimum standard for English to any person who has a job that requires them to have a public facing role.
With migrant voters making up a higher proportion of the electorate Labour may be attempting to appeal to this group with its policy. It's focus on the employer instead of the worker may help them gain favour with this emerging group. A recent study by the Migrant Rights Network has found that
almost 4 million people in England and Wales who are migrants will be eligible to vote in the next election. 615,000 of those are from India, 431,000 from Pakistan and 183,000 from Bangladesh.
The Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have chosen to focus more on the goals that have been achieved in the last few years in the coalition. It seems they are going to use their record in government to show voters that hey know how to improve the system. The points they make are;
- They will introduce exit checks to identify people who overstay their visas.
- They cut net non EU immigration by a third.
- They ended the Labour policy of detaining child immigrants in detention centres.
The Liberal Democrats remain the party that is most openly in favour of immigration. However they have made sure that they remain tough on certain issues. Illegal immigration is a hot button issue for many British voters. The Liberals plan to increase border controls was outlined by Nick Clegg in his speech in August last year, saying. “Britain used to have exit checks – successive Conservative and Labour governments phased them out. I insisted that we commit, in the Coalition Agreement, to reintroducing them and I’ve been very open about my frustration that the Home Office has taken so long to get going. They didn’t make this a priority in the early years – as I said, the Conservatives were fixated on the illusory net migration target. Before the election around 57% of entry and exit points were covered by proper checks. By March last year we were only at 65%.”
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Immigration and economy are driving factors
The Times interviewed Bhavin Thanki, the owner of Sunrup Cash-and-Carry, an Indian mini mart in Harrow. He wishes Eric Pickle, the Communities Secretary to make a good and strong pledge to ensure winning battle against parking wardens. Pickles had promised to remove yellow lines outside small shops, but has not done it so far.
Mr Thanki who came to Britain 30 years back from Uganda, does not feel that he is 'anti-Tory' but he is unimpressed with party's infamous “Go Home” campaign vans aimed at illegal migrants, that made people from his community feel like second-class citizens.
Small business owners are exactly the kind of voters the Tories need to convince and Harrow West is precisely the sort of constituency the Conservative needs to worry about. Their local people have same concerns as most Asian voters- economy, immigration, education, health and benefits.
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