1915
German immigrants living in London and Manchester are attacked in retaliation for British fatalities during the first world war.
1937
Nearly 4,000 child refugees from Spain arrive in the UK following the aerial bombing of Guernica in the Spanish civil war.
1940
As war rages once more, a mass evacuation of British children to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa begins.
1948
West Indians arrive in Britain at Tilbury on board the Empire Windrush. Workers from the colonies were invited to the UK to ease a labour shortage, heralding a new era in immigration.
1958
A call goes out from the Australian government for British families to help build its post-war economy. Seduced by a £10 fare and warm weather many board ships for a new life in the southern hemisphere.
1968
Convinced that Britain is accepting too many immigrants Labour Home Secretary Jim Callaghan introduces legislation to limit the inflow of Asians from East Africa.
Despite the change in policy, Enoch Powell, an outspoken Conservative MP, pours scorn on mass immigration, controlled or otherwise, in his ‘inflammatory’ Rivers of Blood speech.
1972
Idi Amin expels thousands of Asians from the former British protectorate of Uganda. As many are British passport holders the UK government sends planes to rescue them.
1978
The plight of Vietnamese boat people evacuated to the UK is well reported.
1979
A British judge warns that if too many EEC citizens move to the UK its resources will come under enormous strain.
1998
Denmark votes to stay in the Europe Union despite fears over immigration. The result of the ballot is closely watched in the UK.
2017
Net migration to Britain over the past 12 months has fallen by the largest amount since records began. It is believed that “Brexodus” is to blame.
