This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8356226.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hospital consultants facing curbs Hospital consultants facing curbs
(20 minutes later)
Hospital consultants and civil engineers from outside Europe will no longer be able to move to work in the UK, Gordon Brown is expected to say. Some hospital consultants and civil engineers from outside Europe will no longer be able to move to work in the UK, Gordon Brown is expected to say.
In a speech on immigration the prime minister will say they are being axed from the list of shortage occupations. In a speech on immigration, he will say paediatricians and plastic surgeons will be among those cut from the list of shortage occupations.
He will also say that people who voice concern over levels of immigration should not be dismissed as "racists".He will also say that people who voice concern over levels of immigration should not be dismissed as "racists".
The Tories said Mr Brown was toughening up his rhetoric rather than policy and it would make "little difference". The Tories said Mr Brown was toughening up his rhetoric rather than policy.
The prime minister's speech, in west London, comes amid criticism that immigration policy is ineffective and predictions that the UK's population is set to reach 70 million.The prime minister's speech, in west London, comes amid criticism that immigration policy is ineffective and predictions that the UK's population is set to reach 70 million.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson has admitted that the government has taken "a long time" to deal properly with the issue.Home Secretary Alan Johnson has admitted that the government has taken "a long time" to deal properly with the issue.
'Lazy elitism''Lazy elitism'
Mr Brown will defend the government's points-based system for deciding which migrants from outside Europe should be accepted, arguing that it has contributed to a 44% fall in inward migration over the past year. Mr Brown will defend the government's points-based system for deciding which migrants from outside the European Economic Area - made up of the EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - and Switzerland should be accepted.
The prime minister will announce that hospital consultants, civil engineers and aircraft engineers are to be removed from a list of professions for which the country can recruit from further afield because of a shortage of skilled people within Europe. He will argue that it has contributed to a 44% fall in inward migration over the past year.
The prime minister will announce that civil engineers, aircraft engineers and some hospital consultants are to be removed from a list of professions for which the country can recruit from further afield because of a shortage of skilled people within Europe.
People want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here Gordon BrownPeople want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here Gordon Brown
He will add: "I have never agreed with the lazy elitism that dismisses immigration as an issue, or portrays anyone who has concerns about immigration as a racist. Immigration is not an issue for fringe parties nor a taboo subject.He will add: "I have never agreed with the lazy elitism that dismisses immigration as an issue, or portrays anyone who has concerns about immigration as a racist. Immigration is not an issue for fringe parties nor a taboo subject.
"It is a question at the heart of our politics, a question about what it means to be British; about the values we hold dear and the responsibilities we expect of those coming into our country; about how we secure the skills we need to compete in the global economy; about how we preserve and strengthen our communities.""It is a question at the heart of our politics, a question about what it means to be British; about the values we hold dear and the responsibilities we expect of those coming into our country; about how we secure the skills we need to compete in the global economy; about how we preserve and strengthen our communities."
70 million70 million
Mr Brown will say: "If the main effect of immigration on your life is to make it easier to find a plumber, or when you see doctors and nurses from overseas in your local hospital, you are likely to think more about the benefits of migration than the possible costs.Mr Brown will say: "If the main effect of immigration on your life is to make it easier to find a plumber, or when you see doctors and nurses from overseas in your local hospital, you are likely to think more about the benefits of migration than the possible costs.
"But people want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here - obeying the law, speaking English, and making a contribution."But people want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here - obeying the law, speaking English, and making a contribution.
"People worry about whether immigration will undermine their wages and the job prospects of their children. They worry about whether their grown-up children will be able to get housing anywhere near them.""People worry about whether immigration will undermine their wages and the job prospects of their children. They worry about whether their grown-up children will be able to get housing anywhere near them."
The prime minister will say more needs to be done to ensure that people already living in the UK with low skills and poor job prospects are helped into work.The prime minister will say more needs to be done to ensure that people already living in the UK with low skills and poor job prospects are helped into work.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Brown said he did not believe Britain's population would reach 70 million, as some projections suggest.In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Brown said he did not believe Britain's population would reach 70 million, as some projections suggest.
For the Conservatives, shadow immigration minister Damian Green told GMTV the government's plans to reduce the number of professions allowed to recruit from beyond the EU would make "very, very little difference in terms of numbers or in terms of the practical ability of British workers to get jobs".For the Conservatives, shadow immigration minister Damian Green told GMTV the government's plans to reduce the number of professions allowed to recruit from beyond the EU would make "very, very little difference in terms of numbers or in terms of the practical ability of British workers to get jobs".
He said: "What the government is doing is toughening up its rhetoric, but it's not actually changing the policy very much."He said: "What the government is doing is toughening up its rhetoric, but it's not actually changing the policy very much."