THE POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION

The nuanced approach that the report took to the pressures and
benefits of immigration should be developed, rather than jettisoned.
A commitment to seeking to rebuild public confidence in Britain’s
ability to manage immigration better could be pursued by the party in
three ways.
Farron could usefully acknowledge that there is a strong liberal case
for ensuring that we have an immigration system that is both effective
and humane. The party should speak up for the principle of protecting
refugees, and be strong advocates of a welcoming approach, in a way that
both mobilises liberal activism and appeals more broadly to the majority
instinct that Britain should maintain its tradition of being a country
which offers protection to those who need it. Combining the principled
case for protection with an active interest in successfully promoting
contact and integration at a local level would help here.
A party that is broadly supportive of the benefits of economic
migration should prioritise practical measures to handle the local
pressures of immigration effectively. Lib Dems should support the
proposal to directly link levels of local funding for public services to
population flows, so that the tax contributions made by migrants to the
UK are linked to the provision of local services where they are most
needed.
Finally, while Liberal Democrats have been champions of the
cultural benefits of diversity, they have paid less attention to constructing
a liberal account of what makes integration work. This could include the
promotion of an inclusive sense of national identity, and an account of the
importance of shared understandings of the responsibilities of common
citizenship in our diverse society.
The Liberal Democrats may face a long road to political recovery
after the shock of the 2015 general election, but the party does have
some long-term opportunities in a society which is, over the generations,
becoming gradually more rather than less liberal. A confident, broad and
popular liberal case would set itself the challenge of preaching beyond the
liberal tribe in Britain today. To do that, the party should recognise that it
is possible to be principled, liberal and nuanced on immigration.
27 British Future / The Politics of Immigration