Posts Tagged ‘Nick Clegg’

30
April 2012

New immigration rules will keep out human rights abusers

The Telegraph

By James Hall 30 Apr 2012

Foreigners who have been accused of serious human rights abuses will be banned from visiting the UK under tough new immigration requirements to be outlined today.

The measures will allow ministers to ban non-EU citizens from entering the UK where “credible” evidence exists of past or continuing human rights abuses by the individuals.

The measures will to be included in the Foreign Office’s annual Human Rights Report, which is released today.

Currently people can only be prevented from entering the UK if they are viewed as a threat to national security. Visitors can not be excluded from entering the country on the basis of human rights abuses.

The change has been driven by Foreign Office ministers and Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.

The new immigration requirements will only stand when there is “independent” and “reliable” evidence that the person has been involved in human rights abuses.
The new rule will state that: “Foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area may only come to the UK if they satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules.

“Where there is independent, reliable and credible evidence that an individual has committed human rights abuses, the individual will not normally be permitted to enter the UK.”

However the new rules will not lead to a blanket ban on entry for human-rights abusing foreign officials, including heads of state.

Read More →

Share:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Buzz
  • LinkedIn
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Tumblr
  • StumbleUpon
  • FriendFeed
  • NewsVine
  • Digg
30
April 2012

UK immigration rules tightened to keep out human rights abusers

The Guardian – The Observer

Peter Beaumont and Toby Helm
Saturday 28 April 2012

Measure allows ministers to bar entry of non-EU citizens accused of serious charges such as torture or murder

The government is to announce tough immigration requirements that would ban non-EU citizens who have been accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture or murder, from visiting the UK.

The measures in the government’s Human Rights Report, to be launched by the Foreign Office on Monday, will allow ministers to refuse entry where credible evidence exists of past or continuing human rights abuses.

The new rules, however, would not constitute a blanket ban on visas for human rights-abusing foreign officials, with ministers still able to rule that individuals – including human rights-abusing heads of state – can visit the UK if it is regarded as part of a policy of engagement on human rights.

The change has been driven by Foreign Office ministers and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

At present, the UK does not have a list of those who are banned from visiting, as each case is considered on its merits. Officials admit that there have been times where they have wanted to deny entry to individuals but have struggled because they are not allowed to simply on the basis of their human rights record. Currently, the individuals targeted by the new rules could only have been excluded if they were viewed as a threat to national security.

Read More →

Share:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Buzz
  • LinkedIn
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Tumblr
  • StumbleUpon
  • FriendFeed
  • NewsVine
  • Digg