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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| PM to 'tighten' migration rules | PM to 'tighten' migration rules |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has promised to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe. | Gordon Brown has promised to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe. |
| The prime minister said net migration was already being cut and that these changes would ensure this continues while maintaining "flexibility". | The prime minister said net migration was already being cut and that these changes would ensure this continues while maintaining "flexibility". |
| He added that people who voice concern over levels of immigration should not be dismissed as "racists". | He added that people who voice concern over levels of immigration should not be dismissed as "racists". |
| The Conservatives dismissed Mr Brown's proposals as mere "rhetoric". | The Conservatives dismissed Mr Brown's proposals as mere "rhetoric". |
| The prime minister's speech, in west London, came 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 defended 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. | Mr Brown defended 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. |
| He argued that it had contributed to a 44% fall in inward migration over the past year. | He argued that it had contributed to a 44% fall in inward migration over the past year. |
| Mr Brown said the importance of "shortage" professions would be looked at in the near future. | Mr Brown said the importance of "shortage" professions would be looked at in the near future. |
| People want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here Gordon Brown | People want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here Gordon Brown |
| He said that "we will remove more occupations and therefore thousands more posts from the list of those eligible for entry under the points-based system". | |
| Engineers, skilled chefs and care workers could be among the professions affected. | |
| Addressing the wider immigration debate, Mr Brown added: "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 million | 70 million |
| He said: "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." |
| The UK was a "something-for-something, nothing-for-nothing" society, Mr Brown stressed, urging immigrants to live up to their responsibilities. | |
| He advocated a "tough but fair approach" to immigration, maintaining the "flexibility" needed by employers. | He advocated a "tough but fair approach" to immigration, maintaining the "flexibility" needed by employers. |
| More needed to be done to ensure that people already living in the UK with low skills and poor job prospects were helped into work. | More needed to be done to ensure that people already living in the UK with low skills and poor job prospects were 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." |