BritCits

Today's links

Official Life in the UK practice test.

http://www.officiallifeintheuk.co.uk/test/

Try it!

https://twitter.com/LifeInTheUK2013

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FactCheck Q&A: How many migrants are on the dole?

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-qa-how-many-migrants-are-on-the-dole/9148

As we pointed out in a previous FactCheck, benefit rules, strengthened by the government’s own recent reforms, are supposed to make it impossible for anyone to claim benefits for long periods without making an honest effort to find work.

Dr Scott Blinder from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory told FactCheck the high proportion of people with British citizenship or leave to remain could be a sign of how tough the rules already are.

Most migrants have to wait for substantial periods of time before they get to claim benefits. Many have to wait for years for the privileged immigration status that entitles them to DWP payouts, making “tourism” is an unlikely scenario.

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David Cameron's immigration crackdown unravels.

A major crackdown by David Cameron on immigration was unravelling rapidly today after it emerged that it would only affect a small minority of foreigners in Britain.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9952452/David-Camerons-immigration-crackdown-unravels.html

(See FactCheck link above - because very few migrants in fact claim benefits).

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UKBA condemned over backlog.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21920116

MPs say the UK Border Agency is still plagued by backlogs of unresolved immigration cases.

The Home Affairs Committee said it had been supplied incorrect data by the agency for six years, and "repeatedly misled" by former head Lin Homer.

Ms Homer, now the head of Revenue and Customs, said the accusation was unfair and untrue.

MPs attack HMRC chief over Border Agency failures.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/25/mps-hmrc-chief-border-agency

Previously :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/a-good-day.html
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/todays-links-inspector-finds-uk-border.html

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Hong Kong court denies domestic workers residency.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21920811

Hong Kong's top court has ruled that domestic workers are not eligible to apply for permanent residency, ending a two-year battle that has split opinion.

The case had centred on Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a maid from the Philippines who has worked in Hong Kong for more than 17 years.

Domestic workers had argued that denying them permanent residency was unconstitutional.

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The Prime Minister is playing right into UKIP's hands on immigration.

http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2013/03/prime-minister-playing-right-ukips-hands-immigration

All in all, this is a cynical strategy by the Government which will prove divisive, inevitably increasing public fears about immigration rather than easing them. But the surefire outcome of today's speech was to achieve the next stage in the 'arms race' on immigration - a race that only UKIP can gain from.

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The immigration debate: evidence-free and more rancid than ever.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/25/immigration-debate-evidence-free-rancid

The three big parties are pushing cowardly, populist policies as they compete to sound as tough as Ukip.

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Spring edition of New Londoners is now available on line.

The spring edition of The New Londoners digital magazine can now be viewed at:http://tinyurl.com/tnl0313 and on its website: www.thenewlondoners.co.uk

This edition focuses on the debate about Britain leaving the EU as well as stories of migrants and refugees who are contributing to life in the capital city.

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NY Times : Time to strengthen family immigration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/opinion/time-to-strengthen-family-immigration.html?hp&_r=2&

It might be hard to imagine that America’s long tradition of allowing immigrants to sponsor spouses, children and siblings for visas would be threatened. But anti-immigration groups and lawmakers have long attacked the practice, using the slanderous and misleading term “chain migration,” which summons images of a relentless flow of undesirables, usually from south of the border. Even as some of the staunchest resistance to reform is crumbling — legalizing 11 million immigrants was unthinkable for leading Republicans a few months ago, and now even rock-ribbed Tea Partiers like Representative Rand Paul favor it — right-wing resistance to family migration persists.

Geronimo : http://cheezburger.com/2515418368

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They have been described as "invisible people" - asylum seekers who have been refused refugee status, but who have not returned home. The Home Office says it wants them "to experience an increasingly uncomfortable environment" so they will leave, but critics say that they are just being forced into destitution. Glasgow is the first city in the UK to criticise this policy officially.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21835432

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https://twitter.com/britcits immigrant of the day :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Cohen_%28businessman%29 , founder of Tesco.

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Small victory! Immigration minister promises UKBA improvements as shocking figures reveal 49% rise in visa waiting times

http://www.tntmagazine.com/news/london/small-victory-immigration-minister-promises-ukba-improvements-as-shocking-figures-reveal-49-rise-in-visa-waiting-times

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https://twitter.com/ebonyrosebuckle tweets :

Article in the London Evening Standard! Let me come home please! xo
https://twitter.com/ebonyrosebuckle/status/315209098167721986/photo/1

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Easter festivities.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cartoon/2013/mar/25/ben-jennings-immigration-policy-cartoon

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