The turning point for African-UK migration?
- Could this be a turning point for African-UK migration?
‘People before Passports’ this was what British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, promised African delegates at the UK-Africa investment summit. Whilst PM Johnson has paid excellent lip service to the idea of equality of opportunity; we still await much action. Creating a just and meritocratic immigration system is particularly important for Africa given Britain’s sordid history domestically, internationally and given the precarious economic position Britain finds itself in.
Under the thumb of British imperialists
To say that Britain has a dark legacy of African migration is an understatement.Tier 2 Visa Immigration Solicitors London
From the 16th century till the 19th, Britain’s empire was involved in the abduction, commodification and enslavement of native Africans. The first British slave merchant was Sir John Hawkins, who in 1562 seized a Portuguese slave ship with 300 enslaved people who were later sold to plantations in the Caribbean’s.
Spain and Portugal originally held a monopoly over the slave trade, but this would soon change in the late 17th century. After the English Civil Wars, in which for the first and only time a British republic was set up and then collapsed, the new rulers King Charles II and his brother James Duke of York established the Royal African Company. This company transferred over 100,000 slaves across the Atlantic during the period of 1672 and 1713. Slaves owned by the company were treated like cattle and literally branded with the initials ‘DY’ representing the Duke of York.
African slaves were transported across the globe and also came to Britain in the slave ports in London, Bristol and Liverpool.
The reason why I raise this is to highlight not only the historical abuses of British policymakers but to detail the lack of agency yielded by our African counterparts. It is important to bear in mind this historic racism when considering the policies of the Home Office, which similarly robs migrants of their agency.
Home Office’s record
As we have said time and time again, the Home Office is racist. But its racism is not restricted to the confines of old history books on the 17th and 18th century. Instead, it is even more pressingly clear today.
Boris’s statement at the investment summit was rightfully followed by a striking op-ed by the Special Advisor for the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Arkebe Oqubay, who detailed the humiliation many Africans faced at the hands of the Home Office.
Oqubay notes that the African’s are twice as likely to be refused a visit visa from anywhere in the world. Entrepreneurs, students and visitors from Africa have their own horror stories of their experience with the Home Office.
Similar reception is notably received in Britain where visit visas are significantly less expensive.
When polled much of the British public maintain that they wish for an immigration system which attracts people from a “similar background”. What this fails to recognise is the means in which Britain has been significantly improved by cultures which are distinctly different.
Britain was able to become a dominant superpower because of the wealth it stole from its colonies be it the ivory and gold from African nations, exotic Indian spices or tea and rice from East Asia. Beyond we cannot forget their contribution in both world wars, their participation in the NHS nor the numerous British MPs who are of African descent.
A precarious economic situation
For much of this blog, I have highlighted the horrific abuses of the British, which, whilst important, fails to recognise the benefits of African migration. One’s immigration policies should not be purely based on reparations for previously committed injustices, but they must be acknowledged; instead, it should be pragmatic. This is why migration from Africa is so important.
Africa is home to the world’s fastest-growing economies and, contrary to public opinion, is modern, developed and will be one of Britain’s most important trading partners.
Britain has recently withdrawn its membership in the European Union despite economic analysts warning of an economic cliff edge. If Britain is to survive, it must go global, and it must engage with African countries on their own terms and recognising their own needs.
Whether or not this is a turning point in UK-African relationships is yet to be seen, but one can only hope.