4 ms·
how did joining the EU restrict Commonwealth immigration?
by kristjankalm 5y ago
how did joining the EU restrict Commonwealth immigration?
- pjc50 5y agoIt doesn't. The policy of restricting Commonwealth immigration was brought in after https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Asians_from_Uganda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Asians_from_Ugand... in response to complaints that there were "too many" immigrants.
- thu2111 5y agoVoters felt levels of immigration in general were too high and leading to strained public services. EU law forbids restrictions on intra-EU immigration, so the only legal path to making voters happier was to heavily restrict immigration from everywhere else. It didn't work: the numbers from the EU were far too high to be offset via such a tactic, but it was at least something. The numbers are still viewed as being too high though post-lockdowns who knows what will happen. But the limits can at least now be spread around all countries equally, and people can be prioritised based on e.g. demand for their skills. This was previously forbidden.