BBC Africa Debate: How Welcoming Is The UK To Africans?
BBC's Africa Debate comes from the UK for the first time in a week of programmes focusing on the issue of migration in Britain on the BBC World Service.
London, 25 November 2013. November's edition of the BBC's monthly Africa Debate programme comes from the United Kingdom for the first time to ask how welcoming the country is to Africans. The programme, which will be recorded with the participation of an audience in Slough, airs on Friday 29th November and marks the end of a week of programmes on BBC World Service focusing on the issue of migration.
BBC Africa Presenter, Akwasi Sarpong and BBC News Home Editor, Mark Easton will lead an expert panel and a specially invited audience that includes politicians, academics and African migrants to examine the impact the new Immigration Bill could have on the UK economy and business, and on African communities. Although a 'crackdown on immigration' is popular with some voters, this special BBC Africa Debate recorded in St Mary's Church in Slough, asks whether the UK is shooting itself in the foot with its new policies.
The panel will include Fiona Mactaggart, Labour MP for Slough; Dr Dalhaltu S. Tafida, the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK; and Kahiye Alim, an immigration lawyer and a Conservative representative. Other key guests include representatives from UKIP and campaigning groups. The BBC's Afrique, Somali and Swahili services will also be hosting a debate from Slough on the same topic.
For a number of years, immigration has been near the top of UK's political agenda. The government has responded by imposing strict new measures on immigration and travel to the UK. Lorries have been seen on the streets of London carrying the billboard message, "In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest." The new immigration bill being debated in Parliament would force landlords to check the status of tenants or face fines; see bankers making checks before offering accounts; make temporary migrants pay towards the cost of the National Health Service; and urge registrars to inform the Home Office of planned weddings between UK citizens and those from outside Europe, in an attempt to cut down on 'sham marriages'.
Throughout the week BBC World Service programmes Focus on Africa and Newsday will be looking at the issue of migration from different locations in the UK and Africa, including:
Monday 25 November, Essex and Tanzania: Where do African migrants want to go, is it still the UK or elsewhere? When they arrive, does the reality live up to the dream?
Tuesday 26 November, London and Scotland: African immigration to Scotland: asylum seekers in Glasgow and students in Aberdeen.
Wednesday 27 November, London: What is the impact of new tighter immigration rules on business?
Thursday 28 November, Slough: How welcome are Africans in the UK? Live guests share their personal experiences, ahead of the Friday debate.
Friday 29 November, London: Africans in the NHS. Critics complain of “health tourism” but in the past medical staff from Africa have been actively recruited into the NHS. On balance, are Africans giving or taking more from the National Health Service?
BBC Africa Debate: How welcoming is the UK to Africans? Will be recorded on Thursday 28 November and airs on BBC World Service radio, 7-8pm on Friday 29 November and is repeated 12-1pm on Sunday 1 December.
Audiences can join the debate via social media, with conversations on Twitter (#bbcafricadebate) and on Facebook and Google+ (search for BBC Africa).
Focus on Africa broadcasts daily to Africa at 1500, 1700 and 1900 GMT and Newsday broadcasts globally weekday mornings between 0300 to 0830 GMT on the BBC World Service. Audiences can listen to the BBC World Service online and download podcasts at bbc.co.uk/worldservice.
BBC Africa Debate: How welcoming is the UK to Africans? will be pre-recorded on Thursday 28 November in St Mary's Church in Slough.
For more information and for details on how to attend please contact Sophie West, BBC World Service Publicity, on: sophie.west@bbc.co.uk
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