Lib Dems: Illegal immigrants 'should earn right to stay'

The Liberal Democrats today backed proposals to offer an "amnesty" to illegal immigrants.

Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was time to reclaim the debate from the BNP and "swivel eyed hysterics" in the Conservative party and present the benefits of immigration.

If based on a fair and competent immigration system which did not diminish the quality of services for people already resident in Britain and was matched with support for integration, immigration could greatly benefit the UK socially and economically, he told the Lib Dem conference.

But Mr Clegg said the Labour government had managed immigration with "woeful incompetence", leading to a lack of confidence among the public and "fodder" for the BNP.

Mr Clegg said: "I do not think our party should ever be cowed into silence by fear of controversy. We cannot, and should not, close the door on the world.

"We want to replace fear with understanding. Discrimination with integration.

And the "chaos" in the system cannot be resolved with deportation, he argued.

There are an estimated half a million people residing illegally in the UK and deportation would cost £11,000 each.

Instead of a "fantasy of mass deportation," Mr Clegg called for an earned route to citizenship for illegal immigrants that have been in the UK for ten years.

The Liberal Democrats argue this would allow enforcement teams to focus on people traffickers and criminal gangs, as well as strengthening border controls though a border police force.

The policy is not a blanket amnesty, Mr Clegg argued, which risked incentivising illegal immigration.

He explained: "Because these people have lived outside the law, potentially for many years, I believe it is right that they pay a charge, or do community service, as part of the process of gradual legislation".

Delegates also backed proposals to increase the fees paid by employers for work permits, with the revenue earmarked for skills training. The Liberal Democrats also want to extend the provision of English language lessons to foster integration.

Supporting the debate, party chairman Simon Hughes recognised the party had to sell the benefits of immigration to Britons, but said the Liberal Democrats would push for sufficient social housing and other services, with any immigration policy assessing the impact of migration.