Immigration laws were discriminatory

Edward Heath was prime minister in 1971

Britain's immigration laws blatantly discriminated against black and Asian immigrants from the "new" Commonwealth, according to official papers just released.

Files released to the Public Record Office under the 30-year-rule reveal that Edward Heath's conservative government backed the proposal to limit the number of "new" Commonwealth immigrants coming to Britain even though they knew it would be seen as discriminatory.

But at the same time an attempt was made to relax the immigration policy for whites from the "old" Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The thinking behind the Immigration Bill was set out by the then Home Secretary Reginald Maudling at a cabinet meeting on 5 January 1971.

'Necessary and defensible'

He told his colleagues that in order to prevent a resurgence of "new" Commonwealth immigration it would be necessary to apply "more stringent" restrictions.

He warned: "Such a resurgence would inflame community relations in Britain."

The minutes noted that "given the propensity of 'new' Commonwealth immigrants to settle permanently and to bring their dependents, this safeguard was both necessary and defensible."

Ministers agreed, however, that Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born parent or grandparent should be exempt from immigration controls - a move undoubtedly designed to benefit white members of the "old" Commonwealth.

The minutes said: "Although such a concession would probably attract some criticism as being discriminatory in favour of the 'white' Commonwealth, it was defensible as being a clear reflection of our unique relationship with the 'old' Commonwealth countries."

But the "grandparent concession", although added to the Bill, was defeated at committee stage in the Commons.

Later that same year, on 13 May, ministers accepted it would not be feasible to try to reinstate the clause but Mr Heath said it could be possible to achieve their objective through "administrative measures".