This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34450887

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Theresa May: Cohesion 'impossible' with high migration Theresa May: Cohesion 'impossible' with high migration
(35 minutes later)
High levels of immigration make it "impossible to build a cohesive society", Theresa May has warned.High levels of immigration make it "impossible to build a cohesive society", Theresa May has warned.
The home secretary told the Conservative Party conference Britain "does not need" net migration at current levels and that is it "difficult" for key services to cope. The home secretary told the Conservative Party conference Britain "does not need" net migration at current levels saying the net economic effect is "close to zero" at best.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he agreed with her comments.Prime Minister David Cameron said he agreed with her comments.
Net migration into the UK currently stands at a record high, reaching 330,000 in the year to March.Net migration into the UK currently stands at a record high, reaching 330,000 in the year to March.
In other developments:In other developments:
Ministers have admitted missing their target to reduce net migration below 100,000, blaming the scale of migration from within the EU. BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mrs May's comments on immigration were "extraordinarily tough" and "utterly uncompromising".
Addressing the party conference in Manchester, Mrs May said the "desire for a better life is perfectly understandable" but that "there is a limit to the amount of immigration any country can and should take". Addressing the party conference in Manchester, she said refugees should not be "conflated" with economic migrants.
The "desire for a better life is perfectly understandable" she said, but "there is a limit to the amount of immigration any country can and should take".
Controls are needed, she said: "Because when immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it's impossible to build a cohesive society. It's difficult for schools and hospitals and core infrastructure like housing and transport to cope."Controls are needed, she said: "Because when immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it's impossible to build a cohesive society. It's difficult for schools and hospitals and core infrastructure like housing and transport to cope."
Wages are also forced down and some people "forced out of work altogether", she added: "But even if we could manage all the consequences of mass immigration, Britain does not need net migration in the hundreds of thousands every year."Wages are also forced down and some people "forced out of work altogether", she added: "But even if we could manage all the consequences of mass immigration, Britain does not need net migration in the hundreds of thousands every year."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said he agreed with the home secretary's comments, saying integrating new arrivals was "more difficult if you have excessive levels of migration". Mrs May said immigrants could fill skills gaps, but said "not every person coming to Britain right now is a skilled electrician, engineer or doctor".
She said evidence showed that "at best the net economic and fiscal effect of high immigration is close to zero" and that there was "no case, in the national interest, for immigration of the scale we have experienced over the last decade".
The home secretary hit back at critics of her planned crackdown on student visas, saying "too many" students were not returning when their visas run out.
"So I don't care what the university lobbyists say: the rules must be enforced.
"Students, yes. Over-stayers, no. And the universities must make this happen."
She also promised a new approach to asylum claims, including tougher treatment for people who have travelled to the UK from other safe countries.
The first ever "annual asylum strategy" will be published next year, she said, along with a register of people and organisations able to accommodate refugees.
Ministers have admitted missing their target to reduce net migration below 100,000, blaming the scale of migration from within the EU.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said he agreed with Mrs May's comments, saying integrating new arrivals was "more difficult if you have excessive levels of migration".
The PM also said he was "incredibly proud" the UK had built one of the "most successful multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracies anywhere in the world".The PM also said he was "incredibly proud" the UK had built one of the "most successful multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracies anywhere in the world".
But he said that for an "integrated, successful society you have to make sure there are enough school places and that hospitals aren't overcrowded".But he said that for an "integrated, successful society you have to make sure there are enough school places and that hospitals aren't overcrowded".
According to the latest figures released in August, net migration of EU citizens was 183,000, up 53,000 from the year ending March 2014.According to the latest figures released in August, net migration of EU citizens was 183,000, up 53,000 from the year ending March 2014.
The number of those arriving from countries outside the EU was still larger, with net migration measured at 196,000, up 39,000 on a year earlier.The number of those arriving from countries outside the EU was still larger, with net migration measured at 196,000, up 39,000 on a year earlier.
Ministers said the figures were "deeply disappointing".Ministers said the figures were "deeply disappointing".
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says that with talk of who might succeed Mr Cameron continuing on conference sidelines, both Mrs May and Mr Johnson's speeches would be closely watched for signs of any leadership ambitions.BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says that with talk of who might succeed Mr Cameron continuing on conference sidelines, both Mrs May and Mr Johnson's speeches would be closely watched for signs of any leadership ambitions.
The London mayor and Conservative MP will warn that any welfare and tax reforms must not reduce support for "the hardest working and lowest paid".The London mayor and Conservative MP will warn that any welfare and tax reforms must not reduce support for "the hardest working and lowest paid".
"Shops workers, cleaners, the people who get up in the small hours or work through the night because they have dreams for what their families can achieve - the people without whom the London economy would simply collapse," he will say."Shops workers, cleaners, the people who get up in the small hours or work through the night because they have dreams for what their families can achieve - the people without whom the London economy would simply collapse," he will say.
"[These are] the people Labour is leaving behind and then there is an even more important requirement."[These are] the people Labour is leaving behind and then there is an even more important requirement.
"Because if Labour is once again becoming the party that pointlessly bashes the rich it is we who give everyone the tools to make their own lives and their own successes.""Because if Labour is once again becoming the party that pointlessly bashes the rich it is we who give everyone the tools to make their own lives and their own successes."