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The government's draconian Immigration Bill sailed through the Commons with a huge majority on Tuesday night despite a stark warning that it will bring apartheid-style pass laws to Britain.
Just seven Labour MPs voted against the Bill, along with three Lib Dems, three Plaid Cymru MPs, three SNP, Respect MP George Galloway, Green MP Caroline Lucas and two Irish SDLP MPs.
The Bill obtained a second reading by 303 votes to 18 after the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained in line with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper's wish to "amend and reform" it at committee stage.
Left MP John McDonnell delivered a searing attack on the Bill, which ushers in widespread checks on people's immigration status and fines on landlords who rent to "disqualified" people.
"In effect it begins to echo some of the pass laws of apartheid South Africa," he said.
Battling against Tory interruptions, Mr McDonnell went on: "It is a society that echoes those pass laws, a society in which people can be confronted - stopped in the street - and asked for their documentation."
He warned that the Bill would create a brutal "two-tier apartheid society" lacking in compassion.
The Hayes and Harlington MP said 50 per cent of his constituents could be affected.
"This Bill will mean that any person who is black, is of colour or who just looks foreign will be challenged.
"They will be challenged by bank managers and landlords, and by the vicar if they want to get married."
Powerful speeches were also delivered by former Labour front-bencher Diane Abbott and campaigning left MP Jeremy Corbyn.
Ms Abbott accused ministers of trying to demonstrate to Ukip supporters that they are cracking down on immigrants.
The effect of the Bill would be that when people such as her son went to see a flat, they would be told that it was taken.
"Landlords will not want to take the chance of letting to someone who might be an illegal immigrant."
Labour MPs voting against the second reading were: Diane Abbott, Kelvin Hopkins, David Lammy, Fiona Mactaggart, John McDonnell and Dennis Skinner.
In addition, Jeremy Corbyn was a teller for the Noes.
