When the previous Conservative government introduced its Asylum and Immigration Bill, there were mobilisations across the country. Even the Labour front bench voiced their opposition to the draconian measures within the bill. Unfortunately, rather than scrapping the previous legislation, Labour is planning to build upon it and worsen the situation for asylum seekers.
The Tories withdrew benefit entitlements from those who did not claim asylum on entry into Britain. This was partially overturned when a the courts ruled that local authorities had a duty to provide basic necessities such as clothing food and housing to destitute people, under the National Assistance Act and the Children's Act.
But this shifted the financial burden onto cash-starved local authorities and away from central government.
The chaos left from this has meant that most local authorities pay food vouchers rather than cash, allowing asylum seekers only the most meagre existence, the worst housing and totally dependent on such pitiful 'hand-outs'.
As well as creating a desperate situation for those fleeing persecution this has also led to the whipping up of racism in the press because asylum seekers have suddenly become more visible. No one would think that the number of asylum seekers has fallen in the last few years, but this in fact the case.
The new Labour government has been under pressure from local authorities to return responsibility for asylum seekers to central government. They do propose to do this in the White Paper but in a way that goes further even than the Tories dared. They propose to withdraw benefits from all asylum seekers whether they apply straight away or not.
They further aim to have a central register that will instruct asylum seekers where they must live. For many who flee persecution, one of the few comforts is to have some contact with people and organisations that have an understanding of their situation. Labours plan will end this by dispersing refugees throughout the country where they will be far more isolated.
The white paper increases the powers of immigration officer to search, arrest and enter property, and lays the basis for a computer 'spy network'. It strengthens the Carriers Liability Act, which makes airlines liable for anyone travelling without correct documentation. By using airline staff as an additional arm of the immigration service, the government can cut down on asylum applications, since most people fleeing from repression are unable to get the documentation they need.
As a means of cutting down on applications this is probably quite effective. How this fits in with Labour's supposed ethical foreign policy isn't quite clear.
The white paper proposes streamlining asylum applications so that the whole process of application and appeal will last no longer than six months. It is unlikely that the government could deal with the applications within this time limit, but the 'streamlining' that has been proposed is to 'streamline' the rights of appeal.
From the initial application asylum seekers will be given just five days to prepare all documentation (currently they are allowed a month). If an application is turned down, there will be just one appeal, after which they can then be detained and deported. Such streamlining will only prevent asylum seekers presenting their cases adequately.
These proposals are both firmer and faster than current legislation. They can only be said to be fairer in the sense that all asylum seekers will be discriminated against equally.
Despite the fact these proposals have been in the public domain for some months there is as yet no campaign to oppose them. This shows how much more difficult it is to mobilise under a Labour government. Many people have illusions that the labour leadership is somehow working for a fairer society - despite the evidence to the contrary shown by this Bill and many other measures.
The National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns and the National Assembly Against Racism are organising a public meeting to launch a campaign. This must be widely supported throughout the labour movement.