A Green motion in the London Assembly has changed London Mayor Boris Johnson's mind on an earned amnesty for irregular migrants. The Green Party has welcomed Boris Johnson's rethink on the long overdue move that would assist the economy and protect the vulnerable.
Johnson had pledged support for an earned amnesty during his campaign, but later announced that he would not back the measure. But after Greens won a vote in the London Assembly calling for a study paving the way for an earned amnesty, the Mayor yesterday relented and agreed to commission the project.
The forced repatriation of the tens of thousands of irregular migrant workers is not only unfeasible it would squander the opportunities that such migrants represent. The Green Party wants to see a fair and prompt immigration policy where workers that are contributing to the economy can so legitimately without fear of legal repurcussions. The regularisation of these workers would allow them to pay taxes and protect them from illegal activity as well as helping uncover human trafficking.
Green London Assembly Member Darren Johnson, who proposed the motion, said:
"We need to look at ideas such as this, which would allow many thousands of people to pay taxes, escape from exploitation by criminal elements and contribute fully to society. At current deportation rates it would take 25 years to remove all current illegal migrants from the UK, people who could be contributing up to £1bn of increased tax receipts if their status was regularised. Boris Johnson is going to get a rough ride from many in his own party over his stance but he should be supported by progressives in taking this brave step."
Darren's motion passed by 12 votes to 5. Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat members supported the motion, while the Tories joined with the BNP to oppose it. One Conservative AM abstained.
The motion read:
"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."