Almost 25 years

[Vienna_70]

Without a doubt.

Eh?

That doesn’t answer my question.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

The meme is back. For balance I'll park this here. It's an extremely long thread containing sourced articles from the period in question. The things that revisionists and sycophants prefer to forget. First up Jack Straw ....

The Blair Government proposed some of the toughest asylum legislation ever seen which was , in the main, backed by the Tories. Contrary to the ''Labour want open borders'' mantra that we currently get.

The Immigration Legacy of Tony Blair

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who announced his resignation this week, leaves behind an immigration system that has been fundamentally reshaped. As MPI's Will Somerville explains, migration is now "managed" to favor migrants coming for work and study.

www.migrationpolicy.org

Its a shame that when the Tories came to power they chose simply to focus on asylum seekers and not overall immigration .

Table 1. Timeline of Migration Policy and Legislative Milestones in the UK Government, 1998 to 2007​

Policy/Legislation Type Year Overview Fairer, Faster and Firmer: A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum White Paper 1998 Instituted new controls but also a "covenant" with asylum seekers; emphasized "joined up" government and the need for administrative overhaul. Human Rights Act Parliamentary Act 1998 Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, giving human rights the status of "higher law." Immigration and Asylum Act Parliamentary Act 1999 Created a "covenant" with asylum seekers but generally restrictive; made provisions for a new welfare support system (the National Asylum Support Service). Race Relations (Amendment) Act Parliamentary Act 2000 Broadened antidiscrimination legislation to police and immigration service and created "positive duty" for race equality on public authorities. Antiterrorism, Crime and Security Act Parliamentary Act 2001 Part 4 of the act legislated that suspected terrorists who were immigrants could be interned (potentially on a permanent basis). The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) reviews decisions, but the act does not permit judicial review of the SIAC. Secure Borders, Safe Havens: Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain White Paper 2002 Set out comprehensive reform, including the goal of "managed migration." The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act Parliamentary Act 2002 Increased restrictions on asylum (breaking the previous "covenant") and new enforcement powers, but noted support of economic migration. Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP) Change to regulations 2002 Created an immigration scheme based on points that aims to attract high-skilled migrants. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act Parliamentary Act 2004 Further reduced asylum appeal rights and other restrictive measures. Controlling our Borders: Making Migration Work for Britain Five-Year Departmental Plan 2005 Published three months before the 2005 election, the plan set out a strong set of measures on gaining control of borders and managing migration through a new points system. Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: The Government’s Strategy to Increase Race Equality and Community Cohesion Policy Strategy 2005 A race-equality strategy designed to cut across government, complemented by a cross-cutting, race-equality target, and overseen by a board of senior public figures. Integration Matters: The National Integration Strategy for Refugees Policy Strategy 2005 Strategy meant to integrate refugees, including new "integration loans" and the piloting of a one-to-one caseworker model. Built on strategy formulated in 2000. A Points-Based System: Making Migration Work for Britain Policy Strategy 2006 Proposed a five-tier economic migration system. Tiers equate to categories: (1) high skilled, (2) skilled with job offer, (3) low skilled, (4) students, and (5) miscellaneous. Immigration, Asylum, and Nationality (IAN) Act Parliamentary Act 2006 Mainly focused on immigration (rather than asylum), it included restrictions on appeal rights, sanctions on employers of unauthorized labor, and a tightening of citizenship rules. Fair, Effective, Transparent and Trusted: Rebuilding Confidence in Our Immigration System Reform Strategy 2006 Created the arm's-length Border and Immigration Agency, which replaced the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on April 2, 2007. Enforcing the Rules: A Strategy to Ensure and Enforce Compliance with Our Immigration Laws Policy Strategy 2007 Called for secure border control built on biometric visas and greater checks. UK Borders Bill Parliamentary Bill 2007 Proposes police powers for immigration officers and a requirement that foreign nationals must have a Biometric Immigration Document (BID). Source: International Passenger Survey​

 

[KS55]

The labour gov in that period did some fine things. Unfortunately, they didn’t fund a lot of them and ran a fiscal deficit of 11% pa, which by any standards is suicidal. (Maybe 2% to 4% is sustainable). Gordon Brown was essentially dishonest with his budget figures, simply balancing his forecast with nonsensical growth forecasts of up to 10%pa. (There was no Office of Budget Responsibility at the time.)
When Covid struck and recession took hold we had few resources to fight back with other than more debt, and we are still paying for that now.

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

The labour gov in that period did some fine things. Unfortunately, they didn’t fund a lot of them and ran a fiscal deficit of 11% pa, which by any standards is suicidal. (Maybe 2% to 4% is sustainable). When Covid struck and recession took hold we had few resources to fight back with and we are still paying for that now.

Not like Labour had to deal with the global financial crash. Good job the Tories came in and handed out all them contract and £38,000,000,000 on a track and trace system that was a joke.

 

[KS55]

Not like Labour had to deal with the global financial crash. Good job the Tories came in and handed out all them contract and £38,000,000,000 on a track and trace system that was a joke.

Erm, I was talking about the need for a sensible macro fiscal policy which applies whatever party is in power. Your party politics is so silly and does not help one bit. Instead why not try to comment on what fiscal policy ought to be for the next ten years. I’ll start you off: the only way to get back on track fiscally is to spend less, or tax more or earn more. What do you suggest?

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

Putting aside your patronising prick stance, my plan. Increase tax on the rich, invest in infrastructure, rejoin the CU and SM. Renationalise water, trains and energy.

 

[KS55]

Putting aside your patronising prick stance, my plan. Increase tax on the rich, invest in infrastructure, rejoin the CU and SM. Renationalise water, trains and energy.

Who are the rich? What level of tax?, what infrastructure? How does renationalisation improve fiscal position? What would it cost and how would it be paid for?

 

[Vienna_70]

The two greatest things that the Blair government did, IMHO, were to make the Bank of England independent, and devolved power to Scotland, Wales and NI.

 

[KS55]

The two greatest things that the Blair government did, IMHO, were to make the Bank of England independent, and devolved power to Scotland, Wales and NI.

Bank of England, yes. Devolution in general needs more work but I support the principle. Devolution for England, please..See success of, er, Manchester. The new gov is thinking about this.

 

[Rascal]

Just a gentle reminder of some of the best 'social' legislation in a generation ...... you have a somewhat small memory.

View attachment 126459

That is quite an impressive record and I despise Blair. If it wasnt for the Iraq war this could have continued.