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Cameron unveils immigration plan Cameron wants lower immigration
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservatives have set out their plans to control economic migration - David Cameron's first major statement on the issue since becoming leader. David Cameron has outlined plans for "significantly less" immigration to the UK from outside the European Union.
In a change of tone on previous Tory statements, the party stresses possible economic benefits of migration. In his first major statement on the issue, Mr Cameron stressed the possible economic benefits of migration.
But Mr Cameron also says immigration levels must take into account the impact on public services, environment and on "community cohesion". But immigration levels must be controlled because of the impact on public services, the environment and on "community cohesion", he said.
Immigration from outside the EU would be "significantly less", he says. That differs from the new points system for skilled migrants, which decides numbers on the basis of economic need.
The government has announced plans to bring in new rules for skilled foreign workers from outside the EU, as part of the move to a points-based system. The launch of the policy on economic migration comes with Labour ministers expected to unveil fresh immigration measures in the Queen Speech next week.
HAVE YOUR SAY As an immigrant myself, I think that there has to be a limit to how many people come to the UK Christine, UK Send us your comments
Further immigration controls are expected to be announced in the Queen's Speech.
The Conservatives have been reluctant to talk about the issue since last year's general election, as party strategists believe former leader Michael Howard's focus on the issue helped the party lose the poll.The Conservatives have been reluctant to talk about the issue since last year's general election, as party strategists believe former leader Michael Howard's focus on the issue helped the party lose the poll.
'Clear limits'
But opinion polls suggest the issue continues to be a key one for voters.But opinion polls suggest the issue continues to be a key one for voters.
'Clear limits'
Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, unlike Labour, the Conservatives would set an annual limit on economic migration.Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, unlike Labour, the Conservatives would set an annual limit on economic migration.
"We would consult all those who are involved in providing public services, and obviously we'd consult industry, so we would get a figure which we think Britain could comfortably absorb every year, of those who are going to be economically beneficial, and we would set that limit."We would consult all those who are involved in providing public services, and obviously we'd consult industry, so we would get a figure which we think Britain could comfortably absorb every year, of those who are going to be economically beneficial, and we would set that limit.
HAVE YOUR SAY As an immigrant myself, I think that there has to be a limit to how many people come to the UK Christine, UK Send us your comments
"This specifically doesn't apply to asylum-seekers, to those who are coming for family reunion, because we think those, those are separate issues that we'll deal with in the future."This specifically doesn't apply to asylum-seekers, to those who are coming for family reunion, because we think those, those are separate issues that we'll deal with in the future.
"But in this, this field of economic migrants, we will need to limit, we're absolutely clear about that," he said."But in this, this field of economic migrants, we will need to limit, we're absolutely clear about that," he said.
'Benefits'
Mr Green sets out the party's proposals in a pamphlet written with his boss, shadow home secretary David Davis.Mr Green sets out the party's proposals in a pamphlet written with his boss, shadow home secretary David Davis.
In his first major statement on the subject since becoming leader, David Cameron says immigration is an important issue which deserved serious treatment and would benefit from a political consensus. In the foreword to the party's pamphlet, "Controlling Economic Migration," the Tory leader writes that the issue deserves serious treatment and would benefit from a political consensus
In the foreword to the party's pamphlet, "Controlling Economic Migration," the Tory leader writes: "Britain benefits economically from immigration, but not all or any immigration." Border force
Limits should not just reflect economic factors, but also wider impacts on the environment, public services and job competitiveness, he says. He writes: "Britain benefits economically from immigration, but not all or any immigration."
"These effects include the ability of the public services and infrastructure to cope with new arrivals at both national and local levels, the environmental impact of a rapidly rising population and the potential effects on community cohesion," he says. Limits were needed to reflect the impact "on the ability of the public services and infrastructure to cope with new arrivals at both national and local levels, the environmental impact of a rapidly rising population and the potential effects on community cohesion".
He says exact limits would be determined after annual consultation with groups like local councils.He says exact limits would be determined after annual consultation with groups like local councils.
But he says he would expect it to be "significantly less" than current immigration levels from outside the EU.But he says he would expect it to be "significantly less" than current immigration levels from outside the EU.
Conservative proposals include separating asylum policy from economic migration policy and a border force to enforce policy and deal with over-stayers and illegal workers.Conservative proposals include separating asylum policy from economic migration policy and a border force to enforce policy and deal with over-stayers and illegal workers.
EU migrantsEU migrants
For the Liberal Democrats, home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "The Tories are doing the splits on immigration - sending out a hardline message to their membership, while attempting to sound reasonable for the PR purposes of David Cameron. For Labour, immigration minister Liam Byrne accused the Tories of inconsistency, saying border controls would only work with ID cards, which they have opposed.
"It simply doesn't add up to advocate the economic benefits of immigration on the one hand, and then claim that a Conservative government would significantly cut inward immigration without specifying how this would happen." For the Liberal Democrats, home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "It simply doesn't add up to advocate the economic benefits of immigration on the one hand, and then claim that a Conservative government would significantly cut inward immigration without specifying how this would happen."
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which wants zero net immigration, said the Tory proposals were "a step in the right direction, but too little too late".Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which wants zero net immigration, said the Tory proposals were "a step in the right direction, but too little too late".
"They don't address the fact that we still have an open door policy to 450m people from the EU," said Mr Farage."They don't address the fact that we still have an open door policy to 450m people from the EU," said Mr Farage.
Labour MP and former minister Frank Field, who called at the start of the summer for effective immigration control, welcomed the Tory proposals but also called for limits on migration from new EU states.Labour MP and former minister Frank Field, who called at the start of the summer for effective immigration control, welcomed the Tory proposals but also called for limits on migration from new EU states.
He added: "One key plank of any successful strategy of managed migration - the government's objective - must be to limit movement from the enlarged EU and not just from the rest of the world."