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MPs call for '70m population cap' Carey in immigrant 'values' call
(about 17 hours later)
A cross-party group of MPs and peers have called on the main parties to make a manifesto pledge not to allow the UK's population to exceed 70 million. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has said immigrants to the UK should have an understanding the country's Christian heritage.
Former minister Frank Field is among those arguing current immigration rates, unless restricted, will impact on public services and quality of life. He is among a group of MPs and peers warning that the population should not be allowed to go beyond 70 million.
The Balanced Migration Group said the BNP continued to exploit the issue. Lord Carey said immigration angered many people and could lead to violence, and that the system had to focus more on maintaining "values".
Labour says its points-based migration system is working but the Tories want an annual cap on incoming workers. Labour says the system works, but the Tories want caps on incoming workers.
All the main parties are sceptical about setting population targets which they believe is unrealistic and counter-productive.All the main parties are sceptical about setting population targets which they believe is unrealistic and counter-productive.
Last year the Office for National Statistics said if current trends continued, the UK population would rise by 10 million to more than 71.6 million by 2033 - the fastest rise in a century. Last year the Office for National Statistics said, if current trends continued, the UK population would rise by 10 million to more than 71.6 million by 2033 - the fastest rise in a century.
'Unprecedented'
Two-thirds of that increase would be caused, directly or indirectly, by migration to the UK, it suggested.Two-thirds of that increase would be caused, directly or indirectly, by migration to the UK, it suggested.
'Social harmony' The Balanced Migration Group - made up of 20 parliamentarians, including Lord Carey, former Commons Speaker Baroness Boothroyd, five Labour MPs and 10 Conservative MPs - is backing a campaign calling for curbs on immigration.
Nearly 20 parliamentarians, including five Labour MPs and 10 Conservative MPs, are backing a campaign calling for curbs on immigration entitled "70 million is too many". We've got to be more outspoken. What I'm calling for is a debate, a debate without any rancour Lord Carey class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8443338.stm">Lord Carey on BBC 5 Live
Current levels of immigration into the UK were "unprecedented", it said, and threatened the "future harmony of our society". Lord Carey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are not calling for a ban or anything like that because we value people from abroad."
"Poll after poll shows the public to be deeply concerned about immigration and its impact on our population," Mr Field and Tory MP Nicholas Soames, the group's co-chairmen, said. "What I think I'm concerned about is not saying we must put a limit on people who are non-Christian populations. That's not the point. We welcome everybody and that's always been the generous spirit of the United Kingdom."
It is time parties turned their rhetoric into reality by making manifesto commitments to prevent our population reaching 70 million by 2029 Nicholas Soames MP But, he said, immigrants must "understand" the UK's culture, including parliamentary democracy "which is built upon Christian heritage", "our commitment to the English language" and an understanding of the country's history.
The system should not "give preference to any particular group", he said, but added that points-based immigration could take these cultural aspects into consideration.
'Competing groups'
Lord Carey added: "If there's going to be an implementation of that points system, it must focus much more on values rather than religions...
"If there are competing groups wanting to come in, some groups which may have a greater understanding, an espousal to that, may be given preference under a points system, but that's not what I'm arguing and certainly not what the cross-party group is arguing."
Lord Carey told BBC Radio 5 live: "We've got to be more outspoken. What I'm calling for is a debate, a debate without any rancour."
He added that immigration was an issue that mattered to "ordinary working-class people" and that it was important to tackle "that kind of resentment which could build and is building up already".
Lord Carey said too much population growth in the UK could foster "dangerous social conditions", with some minority ethnic groups, such as young Muslim men, suffering "disproportionate" unemployment.
Labour MP Field and Tory MP Nicholas Soames, the co-chairmen of the migration group, said: "Poll after poll shows the public to be deeply concerned about immigration and its impact on our population.
"It is time parties turned their rhetoric into reality by making manifesto commitments to prevent our population reaching 70 million by 2029.""It is time parties turned their rhetoric into reality by making manifesto commitments to prevent our population reaching 70 million by 2029."
For a start, they argue, the government must "restore control" over the UK's borders and "break the present almost automatic link between coming to Britain and later gaining citizenship". 70 million 'unlikely'
The government must "restore control" over the UK's borders and "break the present almost automatic link between coming to Britain and later gaining citizenship", the group said.
Cabinet ministers have tried to do more to address public concerns about immigration, saying the issue must not become the preserve of the BNP.Cabinet ministers have tried to do more to address public concerns about immigration, saying the issue must not become the preserve of the BNP.
In a speech in November Mr Brown promised to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe while making it harder for illegal workers to enter the UK by obtaining student visas. Last November, Gordon Brown promised to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe while making it harder for illegal workers to enter the UK by obtaining student visas.
70m 'unlikely'
He said new restrictions were having an effect, adding the 70 million projection was unlikely to materialise.He said new restrictions were having an effect, adding the 70 million projection was unlikely to materialise.
The Conservatives have said they would keep the government's points-based system but place an overall annual limit on numbers and try to attract more highly qualified migrants.The Conservatives have said they would keep the government's points-based system but place an overall annual limit on numbers and try to attract more highly qualified migrants.
The Lib Dems say they would ensure migrants were directed to parts of the country where they are most needed, where they will be welcomed and there are the resources to accommodate them.The Lib Dems say they would ensure migrants were directed to parts of the country where they are most needed, where they will be welcomed and there are the resources to accommodate them.
Net migration - the number of people who come to live in Britain minus those who leave - fell by more than a third in 2008 but critics say this was driven by eastern Europeans returning home and immigration levels must fall to levels of the early 1990s.Net migration - the number of people who come to live in Britain minus those who leave - fell by more than a third in 2008 but critics say this was driven by eastern Europeans returning home and immigration levels must fall to levels of the early 1990s.
Official estimates that the UK population will pass 70 million by 2025 were based on a forward projection of the 2007 net migration figure and this is likely to be revised downwards in light of the 2008 figures.