ABSTRACT
This chapter will look at the contrasting views of Scottish Conservative and Labour MPs before the 1997 general election by analysing their perceptions of immigration issues. The objective is to analyse opinions of MPs on immigration policies and to evaluate their assessments of immigration policies in relation to people from the Indian sub-continent. The MPs’ opinions are significant because they are the ones who have a say in the passing of the legislation described in chapter two. 1 Also “by convention, Members of Parliament are duty bound to represent a whole constituency, not only those who voted for them. This work includes immigration cases because most people who seek the help of the Member of Parliament with an immigration problem live within the constituency, or at the very least a friend or a relative does”. 2 One of the constitutional functions of Parliament is “procuring the redress of individual grievances” 3 which again emphasises the responsibility of MPs to all their constituents.
