Immigration Solicitors

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has responded to claims made by David Blunkett that the coalition government are “burying their heads in the sand” over the number of Roma communities which may move to the UK after borders are thrown open to Hungary and Romania on 1 January next year.

Former Home Secretary Mr Blunkett said that in Sheffield tensions were rising over a clash of lifestyles between Roma migrants and the existing community of British nationals and Muslims in the Page Hall district, where Roma migrants originating from Slovakia have settled.

Nick Clegg has responded by saying that Roma who come and live in the UK must respect the British way of life – and not “intimidate” local communities.

David Blunkett is MP for Sheffield and Nick Clegg said that although he understood Mr Blunkett’s concerns, it may not be helpful to blame the government.

“I am not sure, bluntly, if it helps very many people in Page Hall for him to then lurch around saying it is the government’s fault and it is all because of the government,” said Mr Clegg.

“There is a real dilemma.... when you get communities coming into a part of our country and then they behave in a way that people find quite difficult to accept – they behave in a way that people find sometimes intimidating, sometimes offensive,” he added.

Mr Clegg called for Roma newcomers to the UK to be ”sensitive” to the communities they were living in.

Roma in eastern and central Europe are some of the most marginalised communities, often living in abject poverty in ghettoes in their native countries, with little chance of employment because of suspicion and resentment towards them from the established community.

The UK government has yet to put a figure on exactly how many Roma are expected to come to the UK after 1 January 2014, raising fears that Britain will end up inheriting the problems surrounding Roma, which governments across the EU have failed to address.

In Page Hall in Sheffield, local residents have complained about groups of Roma hanging round on the streets, as well as rubbish being dumped on streets and issues with noise. Some residents say children from Roma families are also not sent to school.

Mr Clegg added:

“At the end of the day the solution to these things, whether it is in Page Hall or in Slough, is of course people –human beings – talking to each other across community divides.”

Legal help with asylum and immigration

Newcomers to the UK may face many barriers to living and working in Britain, including detention.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of immigration solicitors and can advise on issues such as right to work in the UK, asylum, marriage, illegal entry, citizenship and student visas.

For help with asylum or immigration problems, contact Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For legal help with urgent asylum or immigration issues such as being detained, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.