A balanced centre-right agenda on immigration

It is critical for economic, social and political reasons that the centre-right develops a positive, balanced and robust policy agenda on immigration, especially in response to the rise of populist parties across Europe. We are seeking a positive and balanced centre-right agenda on immigration – with ideas for new policies and narratives – to ensure the benefits of immigration are maximised and the challenges are confronted.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Publications

A sense of belonging

Laura Round, Kate Murray and Tobias Phibbs

December 2016

With the launch of the Casey Review this month sparking fresh debate about the state of integration in the UK, this new report brings together leading decision makers and opinion formers from different political and professional backgrounds to argue that integration should be a top priority that unites both Left and Right.
Dame Louise Casey, Professor Ted Cantle, Lord O’Shaughnessy and MPs Chuka Umunna and Suella Fernandes are joined by a range of thinkers to map out a new path to achieve greater integration in the UK. They argue that social integration is about more than race and religion. It means bringing together people from all sorts of backgrounds: the old and young; straight and gay; rich and poor; disabled and non- disabled. This truly ‘One Nation’ agenda is crucial to reducing prejudice and discrimination, and improving opportunities and quality of life.

Click here to download the report as a .pdf

The great migration

Richard Mabey

June 2016

In this edition of Centre Write, we look at the causes and consequences of immigration, as well as the very topical issue of the EU referendum. Contributors include the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Professor Nick Pearce, Ed West, Madeleine Sumption, Paul Blomfield MP, Philippe Legrain, and many more.

Click here to download the magazine as a .pdf

Reducing poverty by promoting more diverse social networks for disadvantaged people from ethnic minority groups

Ryan Shorthouse

October 2015

There is growing evidence that an individual’s relationships – their ‘social capital’ – can help reduce poverty. For disadvantaged people from ethnic minority backgrounds, there is also evidence of a limited but significant relationship between less diverse social networks and poverty. This report makes four policy suggestions to help to strengthen and widen the social networks of disadvantaged people from ethnic minority groups.

Understanding how ethnic minorities think about immigration

Ryan Shorthouse and David Kirkby

June 2015

This is the final report from this project. It demonstrates the distinctive views of ethnic minorities, including immigrants themselves, towards immigration. Their views are important, especially because they represent a growing proportion of the electorate. Ethnic minorities are more welcoming of immigrants and positive about their impact than the wider population, but value many of the same policy priorities.

These attitudes indicate that there is an opportunity for the centre-right to develop a balanced agenda on immigration which enjoys greater support. The focus should be on prioritising immigrants who contribute and placing competent management of the system at the forefront of the debate.

Click here to download the report as a .pdf

A manifesto for immigration

Ryan Shorthouse and David Kirkby

April 2015

This report is the third from this project. Drawing on key centre-right themes and priorities, it outlines Bright Blue’s manifesto on immigration. It details a series of policy recommendations for the key elements of the immigration system: workers, students, family members, and refugees and asylum applicants. These are policies that are achievable, principled and capable of securing public support, and taken together, they form a firm but fair centre-right manifesto on immigration.

Click here to download the report as a .pdf

A centre-right plan on immigration from opinion formers and decision makers

Ryan Shorthouse and David Kirkby

February 2015

This report is the second from this project. It outlines the key themes which emerged from a series of roundtables on immigration with opinion formers and decision makers. It demonstrates how an understanding of the cultural and economic impacts of immigration can inform a balanced centre-right policy agenda on immigration. The centre-right needs to broaden its message beyond a narrow focus on the net migration figures in order to better convey competence and sound management of the immigration system. Immigrants who contribute economically and who integrate should be prioritised and encouraged.

Click here to download the report as a .pdf

Understanding how Conservative voters think about immigration

Ryan Shorthouse and David Kirkby

January 2015

This report is the first of several from this project. It demonstrates the distinctiveness of the views of Conservative voters on immigration, which can help provide the underlying principles for a more balanced centre-right policy agenda on immigration. Conservatives have a reasonable and clear position: they want an immigration system that is fairer and welcoming of contributors. They are not against immigration per se, but against what they perceive as unfair immigration. In essence, they want to build a contributory-based immigration system.

Click here to download the report as a .pdf

2014

From Global Empire to the Global Race: modern Britishness

James Brenton

December 2014

In the sixth edition of The Progressive Conscience, Bright Blue turns its attention to what Britishness means today, especially after the referendum on Scottish independence. Daniel Hannan MEP is interviewed by our editor and talks about the institutions which define Britain, the Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP discusses the patriotism of the Welsh, and the Rt Hon Damian Green MP argues it’s possible for British and European identities to exist together. Meanwhile, the columnist Peter Hitchens provocatively argues that Britain’s is a culture of decline, not progress. Other contributors include John Redwood MP, George Freeman MP, Alexandra Jones, Professor Tim Bale, Sunder Katwala, Paul Uppal MP, Dr Robert Ford, and many others. Plus, we have a newly expanded Books and Arts section featuring reviews of books, exhibitions, and theatre.

Click here to download the magazine as a .pdf