Research

Britain between 1948-1962
Between 1948 and 1962 workers from the colonies could migrate to Britain without restriction. Until 1962 every Commonwealth citizen was entitled to enter the United Kingdom at will.
This right had been freely exercised for many years but it was only in the 10 years from 1952 onwards that substantial numbers of people from the Commonwealth began to think of settling in Britain.
Under the British Nationality Act 1948, citizens of British colonies could simply apply to the Home Office for registration of British nationality and were issued with certificates.
The South Asian citizens who could obtain certificates included many who came to Britain from other colonies, such as indentured labourers from the West Indies and families who had settled in East Africa.
A Commonwealth citizen who wanted to work and settle in the United Kingdom had to obtain Ministry of Labour Vouchers, which were issued under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 and 1969. The vouchers were issued in three categories:
Category A: For applications by employers in this country who had a specific job to offer to a particular Commonwealth citizen
Category B: For applications by Commonwealth citizens without a specific job to come to but with certain special qualifications (such as nurses, teachers, medical doctors )
Category C: For all others.

How was the social landscape changing?
There is another paradox in our new social landscape. The nation is devolved into Scottish, Welsh and British parliaments, while a mayor presides over London. Yet on our streets there has been a loss of distinctiveness: we have fewer pubs, independent shops, post offices and social clubs, but more supermarkets and chains. Local newspapers are vanishing, as are local services.
Britain’s population is more global too. The highest ever peacetime levels of immigration have shored up our young population, birth rates and labour force. But the net gain of more than 3m non-Britons has also fuelled an anxious debate over national identity.

How did the changing social landscape lead to a 'racialisation' of British Politics?

Social landscape lead to a 'racialisation' of British politics as they mas much anxiety as to the amount of 'coloured' immigrants in Britain, this was uttered by the Conservative Party. The prospect of black immigration was immediately viewed negative as two days after the Empire Windrush a letter was sent to Prime Minister Clement Attlee (at the time) by 11 Labour MP's pleading for the control of Black immigration. During these years black individuals were portrayed as scapegoats as they were blamed for the growing difficulties that the British economy. In the year 1962, introduced the first legislation act which restricted entry on British Commonwealth citizens by making primary immigration dependent on the ownership of a work voucher.