LONDON: The government will toughen immigration and asylum Jaws, Queen Elizabeth said in speech to Parliament that minority groups regard as a pointer to dark days ahead.
The Queen’s speech at the opening of Parliament on Nov. 15 was the government’s policy statement of the day. The monarch traditionally reads it out at the state opening of Parliament. ‘The government, the Queen said, will introduce a bill “to streamline handling of asylum applications and to strengthen enforcement of immigration controls.” She said the government would present legislation ~o enable the security service to assist the law enforcement agencies in their work against organized crime.” The new Legislation would officially introduce surveillance of immigrants by the British intelligence service, M6, and its external intelligence agency. The speech confirmed the fears of minority groups in Britain that the Conservative Party government would toughen immigration and asylum laws. “This is the beginning of Britain’s days as a police state,” an Indian British Labour Party councilor said.
‘The monarch’s speech was strongly attacked by the opposition Labour Party. Its leaders have said they would reverse severe immigration measures being introduced by the Conservative government.
The Queen made two references to organized crime. Given the context in which nationwide Conservative constituency groups had spoken of illegal immigration as organized crime at the party conference in Blackpoll, the government’s new declaration to tackle organized crime is bound to target immigrants.
The government had leaked its intention earlier of announcing these proposals in the Queen’s speech. ‘There has been strong criticism of the proposals in the news media, by the: opposition and a range of independent groups, But the government went ahead with its proposals, evidently pushed by strong support for the measures from within the Conservative Party.
Some saw anew rightwing emphasis in the Queens speech, She began her address in the House of Lords saying: * My lords and members of the House of Commons, the Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to receiving the state visit of His Excellency the President of France…”
Prime Minister John Major has been one of few leaders to steadfastly refuse to condemn France’s nuclear testing in the Pacific. In the face of ‘widespread protests against the French government and the strong feelings against that government at the Commonwealth summit meeting, from which Major has just returned, the beginning of the Queen’s speech was seen as significant.
While ignoring the sentiment against the nuclear testing during the Commonwealth meeting, the Queen said in her speech that the government would “continue to strengthen ties between members of the Commonwealth.”
The Commonwealth, which links Britain with its former colonies, is known to be dear to Queen Elizabeth, ‘and a mention of the organization is routinely made in deference to her. (LA.11/ 24/95)
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1995
