New UK visa restrictions branded racist

According to the Independent, the new visa laws are likely to affect thousands of Africans and Asians. Quotas are to be introduced on the number of visitors entering Britain under its working holiday scheme from countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kenya.

The restrictions were announced after Home Office officials found that the present system was being abused and was being used as a back door route for permanent settlement.

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"There are people, who see the scheme as a way of staying here for longer," Home Secretary David Blunkett's spokesman was quoted as saying.

The present system is popular with Australian, South African and Canadian backpackers, as it allows people aged under 30 from Commonwealth countries to spend up to two years in Britain, subsidizing their holiday with casual work. It was extended two years ago to include more countries, predominantly in Africa and Asia.