Successive UK governments have expressed a commitment to “equality for all”. In this article the authors assess the extent to which such claims of inclusivity ring true for migrants living in the United Kingdom. The authors argue that international and regional human rights law pertaining to non-discrimination and equality provide a structured framework to consider the extent to which any differential treatment between citizens and migrants, or between different categories of migrants, can be justified. This approach, the authors suggest, is consistent with international and European human rights law, while also reflecting the wider moral, economic and social benefits associated with the advancement of equality.
Spencer, S. and Pobjoy, J. (2012) 'Equality for All? The Relationship Between Immigration Status and the Allocation of Rights in the United Kingdom', European Human Rights Law Review, 160-175