ABSTRACT
The Heath government inherited an extremely difficult legacy in the area of immigration and race relations. Heath abhorred racism and was determined to promote good community relations and integration. He was resolutely opposed to Powell's inflammatory language and extreme policy proposals such as large-scale repatriation. Heath and his advisers recognised that there was considerable support in the Conservative Party and among the electorate for Powells policies on immigration. Heath's strategy was to reassure public opinion and reduce Powells momentum by acting quickly to introduce the 1971 Immigration Act. However, Heath was not able to control international events, and the announcement by President Amin that British Asian passport holders would be expelled from Uganda provoked an unexpected immigration crisis. The acceptance of the Ugandan Asians by the Heath government was not a change in immigration policy but an acceptance of Britain's obligations to British passport holders who had become the victims of an arbitrary and brutal regime.
