David Cameron has urged the British public to report illegal immigrants and vowed to change the citizenship test so that it includes questions on British history.
The text of the prime minister's key immigration speech confirms that he wants to make forced marriage a criminal offence, and makes it clear that Downing Street backs Theresa May's desire to rewrite the immigration rules so "misinterpretations" of the right to family life do not block immigration deportations.
But his proposal to require families who want to sponsor overseas relatives to settle in Britain to post a financial bond worth thousands of pounds has already sparked a strong warning from Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, that it will "antagonise settled communities in Britain and enrage our allies such as India".
Vaz said the speech marked the third time the financial bond had been proposed over the last decade, adding: "It was shelved before because it was unworkable. A more effective method must be found in order for immigrants to pay for public services."
The proposal to make forced marriage a criminal offence will initially be limited to introducing a criminal penalty for those who breach a forced marriage prevention order. » | Alan Travis | Home Affairs Editor | Monday, October 10, 2011
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