ABSTRACT
This book has analysed the nature and impact of the immigration regime developed by the Conservative government under Thatcher. It has demonstrated that the immigration policy of the Conservative party under Thatcher had a negative impact on would-be immigrants into Britain from the Indian sub-continent, and was characterised by unfairness and considerable harshness. The regime was perceived by those affected by it as unfair and discriminatory. A number of significant findings of this study provide clear evidence of the tough nature of the immigration regime and of its discriminatory impact. The principal ‘victims’ of the regime were males seeking to join wives and fiancées already established as citizens of the United Kingdom. The Glasgow survey revealed that only 29% of husbands and 22% of male fiancés applying for entry visas were successful in the first instance. In the case of applications for visitors’ visas 74% of males were turned down in the first instance. In sharp contrast, the success rate of wives and fiancées applying for permanent stay visas was 76% and 78% respectively.
