Thirty rebels needed to beat race Bill

THE Government's proposals for changing the nationality law have been attacked by Church leaders, politicians, and champions of civil liberties.
Sometime in the New Year a Bill will be introduced in the Commons to give effect to these measures. Before then, anyone who feels ,strongly about individual liberties should write to their MP — particularly to Conservative MPs. Unless about 30 Tories rebel and vote against the Government, this pernicious piece of legislation will get on to the Statute Book.
What does the White Paper aim to do? In many ways it follows in the foot-steps of the Green Paper, "British Nationality Law: Discussion of Possible Changes", published three years ago by Labour. Both papers and both governments announced their intention to revise the 1948 Nationality Act and to clarify the term "British citizen" and to identify more immediately those who have close ties with the UK.
The paper said it wanted to put right the "main defect in our present law." It explained this as "the present citizenship of the UK and Colonies relates both to the UK and the overseas territories, it does not identify those who belong to this country and have the right to enter and live here freely. In consequence it prevents the UK from basing its immigration laws on citizenship." The Conservatives' White Paper sets out to rectify that: the Nationality Law aims to express the connection between the individual and the state.
Its effect on the immigrant community and the ethnic minority groups has already been significant. At meetings I have attended with their leaders there has been enormous resentment bitterness and anger. One immigrant leader said it was the greatest betrayal since the passage of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968. That law was rushed through in three days and led "The Times", in a leader, to say: "The Labour Party now has a new ideology. It
At meetings I have attended with leaders of ethnic minotiry groups there has been enormous resentment, bitterness and anger.'
doesn't any longer profess to believe in the equality of British citizens. It believes in the equality of white British citizens."
The new law will establish five different kinds of British nationality : British citizenship, Citizenship of British Dependent Territories, British Overseas Citizenship, British Subject without Citizenship. British Protected person. But only the first of these will have any real meaning and will carry right of entry and the right to live in the UK. The other four will be second-rate, second class status: not disimilar to the rights of nonwhites in South Africa.
At present, the people who are Free to enter and live in the. UK are known as "patrials". This is a racial definition favourable to whites. The new definition, refers to people with a "close connection" with the UK. It means exactly the same as patriality under the existing immigration law.
It means that people who were given full citizenship of the UK and Colonies — when the colonies became independent — will have that right taken away. Never mind that British governments — Conservative governments — less than 20 years ago gave their solemn word that those wishing to take our citizenship could have it. They will now become British Overseas Citizens and will not be able to pass on that citizenship to their wives and children.
While the new law will limit the number of people from ethnic minority groups from entering Britain the "close connection" clause will not affect the right of several million white Commonwealth citizens to come here. So is that concern about "population control" or is it blatant discrimination?
David Alton is the Liberal MP for Liverpool Edge Hill. He writes a weekly column in the Catholic Herald.