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LONDON: Nearly a quarter of the 164,635 people who became British citizens last year belonged to Asia, with Indians constituting the largest single national group, according to official figures, even as London's top man in Delhi said that recent changes to immigration rules had not deterred Indians from hot-footing it to the UK to work and study.
Sir Richard Stagg, British high commissioner in Delhi told TOI that Britain's controversial changes to visa and work permit rules for Indian doctors and highly-skilled migrants appeared to have "had no effect on the number of people applying for visas", even though he admitted "it is the migration issue that causes the most friction".
But Stagg denied that Britain's retroactive changes to immigration rules had damaged Britain's reputation for fair play and decency in the former Raj.
"These issues are highest on the minds of the media," said Stagg, the diminutive, affable, high-flying diplomat who took up his post in September, when the fate of Indian highly-skilled workers in the UK was being fought in the British courts and a raging news story across two continents. As evidence, Stagg pointed out that 430,000 Indians had applied for British visas in 2007-2008, which he said, did not suggest "there's been an underlying effect on Britain's reputation".
In what many would describe as a suave diplomatic attempt to claim victory from the jaws of defeat, Stagg said that the judicial victories clocked up by both Indian doctors and highly skilled migrants, respectively in November and April, in their challenge to the British government, represented their basic faith in the English legal system. "I think, they judged British society pretty accurately. Take it to court and if our case is good we might win," he said.
The British high commissioner's comments appear to be unwittingly supported by new figures put out by the government of the number of foreigners who became British citizens last year. The official counting up of new Britons sets a new record, being 7% higher than in 2006, as well as the highest number of new citizenships ever granted in any year.
Sir Richard Stagg, British high commissioner in Delhi told TOI that Britain's controversial changes to visa and work permit rules for Indian doctors and highly-skilled migrants appeared to have "had no effect on the number of people applying for visas", even though he admitted "it is the migration issue that causes the most friction".
But Stagg denied that Britain's retroactive changes to immigration rules had damaged Britain's reputation for fair play and decency in the former Raj.
"These issues are highest on the minds of the media," said Stagg, the diminutive, affable, high-flying diplomat who took up his post in September, when the fate of Indian highly-skilled workers in the UK was being fought in the British courts and a raging news story across two continents. As evidence, Stagg pointed out that 430,000 Indians had applied for British visas in 2007-2008, which he said, did not suggest "there's been an underlying effect on Britain's reputation".
In what many would describe as a suave diplomatic attempt to claim victory from the jaws of defeat, Stagg said that the judicial victories clocked up by both Indian doctors and highly skilled migrants, respectively in November and April, in their challenge to the British government, represented their basic faith in the English legal system. "I think, they judged British society pretty accurately. Take it to court and if our case is good we might win," he said.
The British high commissioner's comments appear to be unwittingly supported by new figures put out by the government of the number of foreigners who became British citizens last year. The official counting up of new Britons sets a new record, being 7% higher than in 2006, as well as the highest number of new citizenships ever granted in any year.
