Prem Goyal
The newly-formed All People’s Party (APP) is calling for an amnesty for all over-stayers in the UK. The amnesty would apply to all immigrants who have lived in the UK for at least 10 years, stayed out of trouble and are of good character but are currently irregular.
It is estimated that there are around 750,000 such irregular migrants living in London. Most migrants become irregular when they overstay their visa but remain in the UK. It can also happen when their visa category changes and they cannot meet the new requirements. Their children are also considered irregular. This means that 1 in 10 Londoners are irregular migrants – and this number might rise to 1 in 5 people in Southwark.
One such example is Olu, a Southwark resident, who entered the UK legally 28 years ago and worked hard every day, 7 days a week, in a low-paid job as a cleaner. But he overstayed his visa which expired 25 years ago. Consequently, he is now forced to work in a shadow, parallel economy for between £2-3 per hour and overtime without extra pay to make ends meet for his wife and two children.
Around 90% of London’s unskilled jobs are done by migrants, many of whom are irregular, because they have to live outside the law and are therefore easily exploited by rogue employers and landlords.
All People’s Party Leader - Prem Goyal said: “That is why APP is calling for an amnesty for all over-stayers. These people are contributing members of the community and are woven into the fabric of our everyday life. They supported our Olympics and are going to cheer for our football team in Brazil. Their children play and study with our children, they ride the buses we get to work and work in the restaurants we go to eat. They are British in everything but passport.”
Some analysts have said that the extra revenue after implementing an amnesty would amount to between 500 million and 1 billion pounds. Indeed, HRMC used a tax amnesty for the whole population in 2012 offering an incentive to self-correct and promote community integration.
Many have therefore questioned why a similar amnesty has not been replicated by the UK’s immigration authorities who have admitted they will never be able to go through and settle all the backlog of cases at the UK Border Agency.
Prem Goyal added: “An amnesty is the right, moral and practical action to build one Southwark and one Nation. It makes economic sense to bring over-stayers back in from the parallel economy. We’ve used amnesties before in the face of complex problems like knife crime and tax avoidance. To move forward, we must close old chapters. Where there’s a will, there’s a way: we have the will to resolve this fast-growing issue and amnesty is the way. For a change, Britain can lead both Europe and the US.”
The APP was formed last year by Prem Goyal to fight against what he and his team describe as "inequality at the top." The Party has been on an agressive membership recruitment drive since inception and recently gained two serving Councillors from the London Borough of Southwark. Former Mayor and Labour Councillor - Althea Smith and Independent Councillor Stephen Govier now sit as APP Councillors on Southwark Council.
A new group has been registered with the Council with Cllr. Althea Smith as Leader of the All People’s Party group and Cllr. Stephen Govier as the Chief Whip.