Street preacher, Brixton 1955
(Mary Evans Picture Library/Maurice Ambler)

History of immigration law

Until 100 years ago, nobody asked questions like ‘How many immigrants should we let in?’ Britain had open borders – although that didn’t mean that everyone was made welcome. But then Russian Jews coming here were met by a huge outcry. Newspapers said that they were overrunning the country, stealing English jobs and homes, and spreading disease. So in 1905, the government passed Britain‘s first immigration law: the Aliens Act. This law against ‘undesirables’ set a precedent for later laws against black immigrants.

By the 1950s, Britain was desperate for cheap labour and recruited people from the colonies. Ten years later, the demand for labour had decreased. Racist tensions erupted, and successive Tory and Labour governments passed harsh new immigration laws. These reduced the number of black Commonwealth immigrants. Yet any white Britons who had gone out to the colonies – and even their grandchildren – could ‘return’. It wasn’t about numbers. It was about colour.

The 1971 Immigration Act ended immigration for settlement. But now that the European Union has expanded, more people can come here for work – although they can only settle after getting work permits renewed. European countries now receive more asylum applications. And both Tory and Labour governments have tightened Britain’s asylum laws.