LibDem's amnesty on illegal immigrants

Because it doesn't make sense to have more than one - that's the whole point. You have an amnesty to get those who've been here for 10 years out of the black economy, and then you make sure the controls are more effective and that your policies are geared to making sure you're not going to need one again. There's no point in having amnesty after amnesty without making your immigration controls more effective - that would be silly.

and Boris Johnson has also suggested one.

VESELA" how do you know that? Can we really take another 3 or 4 million into a country that is as broke as ours. I would not believe any politician when he states it's a one off, amnesties don't work, and that is why CLegg is the only politician pushing for one, as stated, it would be highly unpopular.

crystal, this would be a ONE-OFF amnesty to bring them out of the black economy. It wouldn't be repeated - no question of having 25 of them!

CULYHAIREDASSASSIN LOL This policy is bonkers, where do I start? How can you find out if they have criminial records are they going to tell you? Spains' had 25 amnesties and it never worked for them, illegal immigration grew after every amnesty, each time. Even if each illegal person brought only 3 dependants with them it makes another 4 million people added to the population! This country is skint,broke, not taking into acccount other factors, we just can't afford it, and the policy is very unpopular and will never gain growth , particularly with mass immigraton on every politicians lips.

Proof from rent books, or visiting a doctor, or having children in school, perhaps?

After all, the eligible ones are also expected to have learned English so odds are that they would have probably tried getting work early on, too.

Alternatively, it could be a cynical "We'll have an amnesty but raise the bar very high" so as to offer it but also cut numbers...

Curly - I was wondering the same thing. In principle I think it's a better idea than burying one's head in the sand about the whole issue - all politicians know that these people are here. There is an organisation whose name I've forgotten, who have been campaigning for this amnesty for some years now...I'm sure someone, somewhere has an idea of how to prove their status.