ABSTRACT
This book will examine the view that the immigration policies of the Conservative party under the Premiership of Margaret Thatcher between the years 1979–1990, enshrined in law were restrictive and discriminatory, and had a severely negative impact on immigrants from the Indian sub-continent. There is considerable evidence from immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and from other actors in the immigration debate such as organisations and MPs that white immigrants have been treated more liberally by the immigration process. They did not face the same procedural problems encountered by those from the Indian sub-continent; nor were so many rejected when they first applied for visas to enter Britain permanently or even temporarily. Officials and MPs admitted that it was easier for white immigrants to satisfy the immigration criteria. Organisations such as the Immigration Advisory Service pointed out that virtually no white persons came to seek their help in immigration matters, which suggests that the process of gaining entry for them was virtually trouble free.
