By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
Associated Press

Britain's deputy prime minister said Sunday he will try to block any attempt to make foreign visitors routinely pay a security deposit to come to the U.K., an idea that has spurred outrage in countries such as India and Nigeria.

The government plans to begin a pilot project in November involving "high-risk" countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Some visitors will have to pay a 3,000 pound ($4,800) deposit, which will be refunded upon departure but forfeited if travelers overstay their visas.

Officials and businesspeople in the affected countries have condemned the proposal, and the British government has not said how many visa applicants will have to pay the bond.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said his Liberal Democrat party and its Conservative coalition partners had "differences of emphasis" on the plan, and details were still being discussed in government.

"I am absolutely not interested in a bond which becomes an indiscriminate way of clobbering people who want to come to this country," Clegg told the BBC. He said the bonds "are certainly not going to go ahead" on that basis.

"Of course in a coalition I can stop things," he added.

Immigration is a sensitive political issue in Britain, especially with the unemployment and austerity measures brought on by the economic crisis. Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to cut net immigration from 252,000 a year in 2010 to below 100,000 a year by 2015.

While that plays well with the Conservatives' right-of-center supporters, it has been trouble for the centrist, liberal Lib Dems, who are holding their annual conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

The party is sagging in opinion polls 18 months ahead of a national election, and many members have expressed unease about the compromises involved in coalition government. Earlier this month one of the best-known Lib Dem lawmakers, Sarah Teather, said she was quitting because she felt the party no longer fought for social justice and liberal values.

Clegg defended his party's participation in the coalition, saying it had made the government fairer and more liberal.

danbabe: I have used my 5 year UK visa only about 6 times since it was issued and its still valid. I use my American visa a lot more. Prefer going to America a million times more . The only reason I even go to Britain is to make sure that the visa is being used. I don't spend more than 3 -4 days maximum in Britain. It really doesn't appeal to me.

comon sharrapp u dis ikotun-eba babes dat have not seeee ordnary common ekenedilickuku bus talkless of airpot. u dis banana hawker in umunede formin wusup wusup for us on internet websight!!!

yuzedo: london is a poor contry were poeple like mr cork 190 adaobi123 idowuogbo etc nomally did houseman + housemaid job just to survive and eat one square food a weekly!

yuzedo:
comon sharrapp u dis ikotun-eba babes dat have not seeee ordnary common ekenedilickuku bus talkless of airpot. u dis banana hawker in umunede formin wusup wusup for us on internet websight!!!

Lilimax:
A lot of fakes on NL why

adora4u1: Make dem reconsider o before Naija retaliate o!

yuzedo: london is a poor contry were poeple like mr cork 190 adaobi123 idowuogbo etc nomally did houseman + housemaid job just to survive and eat one square food a weekly!

deeptesting: They better oppose it because I know how much they will loose from me personally...Imagine my family of 4 wife's, 16 children and 3 Nannies not visiting the UK anymore where we spend an average of £250,000 annually on vacation... I no come no who dey benefit from each other self,please let me consult with my wife's to know our next option for vacation, I just hope Mariam will not suggest we go to Maiduguri.

yuzedo:
comon sharrapp u dis ikotun-eba babes dat have not seeee ordnary common ekenedilickuku bus talkless of airpot. u dis banana hawker in umunede formin wusup wusup for us on internet websight!!!

yuzedo: london is a poor contry were poeple like mr cork 190 adaobi123 idowuogbo etc nomally did houseman + housemaid job just to survive and eat one square food a weekly!

turl: London is not a country oga. Also, not all nairalanders you meet here do menial jobs in the Uk.

yuzedo:
comon sharrapp u dis ikotun-eba babes dat have not seeee ordnary common ekenedilickuku bus talkless of airpot. u dis banana hawker in umunede formin wusup wusup for us on internet websight!!!

satanist: yuzedo a fake?

Lilimax:
Not at all. I was referring to the fellow that claimed he wanted to consult his wife Mariam for vacation...

turl:
London is not a country oga. Also, not all nairalanders you meet here do menial jobs in the Uk.

ogb5: my last 2yrs uk visa expired without being used. who get time to waste. with one scheghen visa, I can visit many countries. with one us visa I can visit many states, each bigger than the uk. why go to the uk.

yuzedo:
comon sharrapp u dis ikotun-eba babes dat have not seeee ordnary common ekenedilickuku bus talkless of airpot. u dis banana hawker in umunede formin wusup wusup for us on internet websight!!!