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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Cameron calls for population plan | Cameron calls for population plan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Net immigration needs to be lower and a long-term population plan is needed, if a Tory government is to "deliver its vision", David Cameron has said. | Net immigration needs to be lower and a long-term population plan is needed, if a Tory government is to "deliver its vision", David Cameron has said. |
| There should be limits on non-EU immigration and more done to cut the "atomisation of society", he said. | There should be limits on non-EU immigration and more done to cut the "atomisation of society", he said. |
| A population strategy was needed, which would also take in an ageing population and growth in single person households. | A population strategy was needed, which would also take in an ageing population and growth in single person households. |
| He denied a move to right-wing issues saying it had to be considered "in the round" in calm language. | He denied a move to right-wing issues saying it had to be considered "in the round" in calm language. |
| Last week the ONS (Office for National Statistics) estimated the UK population would rise by 4.4m, to 65m, by 2016 and to 71m by 2031. | Last week the ONS (Office for National Statistics) estimated the UK population would rise by 4.4m, to 65m, by 2016 and to 71m by 2031. |
| In a speech to the Policy Exchange, the Conservative leader said a coherent population strategy was needed - and said demographic changes were not just "an inevitable part of the modern world and that we'd better just get used to it". | In a speech to the Policy Exchange, the Conservative leader said a coherent population strategy was needed - and said demographic changes were not just "an inevitable part of the modern world and that we'd better just get used to it". |
| 'Too high' | 'Too high' |
| He said he did not want to "pull up the drawbridge" on all immigration, but bring down net immigration to a "sustainable level". | He said he did not want to "pull up the drawbridge" on all immigration, but bring down net immigration to a "sustainable level". |
| "We must recognise that in an advanced, open economy there will be high levels of emigration and immigration. But what matters is the net figure, which I believe is currently too high," he said. | "We must recognise that in an advanced, open economy there will be high levels of emigration and immigration. But what matters is the net figure, which I believe is currently too high," he said. |
| I just don't accept that actually having a proper understanding of population, demography, household formation or poverty is somehow a left wing issue or a right wing issue David Cameron Analysis: The big issues Population 'to hit 65m' In full: Cameron speech | I just don't accept that actually having a proper understanding of population, demography, household formation or poverty is somehow a left wing issue or a right wing issue David Cameron Analysis: The big issues Population 'to hit 65m' In full: Cameron speech |
| He said immigration had to be considered alongside other pressures including people living longer, and more people choosing to live alone. | He said immigration had to be considered alongside other pressures including people living longer, and more people choosing to live alone. |
| "As a country we simply haven't planned for the effects of our changing and growing population," he said. | "As a country we simply haven't planned for the effects of our changing and growing population," he said. |
| "Our current level of population growth and atomisation is unsustainable. Immigration is too high. Family breakdown is too high. Unsustainable demographic change makes it harder to build the opportunity society I want to see." | "Our current level of population growth and atomisation is unsustainable. Immigration is too high. Family breakdown is too high. Unsustainable demographic change makes it harder to build the opportunity society I want to see." |
| Migrant labour | Migrant labour |
| He said government estimates were that net immigration into Britain was between 190,000 and 200,000 a year. | He said government estimates were that net immigration into Britain was between 190,000 and 200,000 a year. |
| He said economic migration from outside the European Union, should be subject to annual limits. And people from new EU countries should be subject to controls on access to the labour market - as the government has done for Romania and Bulgaria. | He said economic migration from outside the European Union, should be subject to annual limits. And people from new EU countries should be subject to controls on access to the labour market - as the government has done for Romania and Bulgaria. |
| Projections for the UK population put it at 71m by 2031 | Projections for the UK population put it at 71m by 2031 |
| Other pledges were to set up a border police force with powers to track down and remove illegal migrants and to raise the minimum age for spouses coming to Britain to 21, and ensure they can speak English. | Other pledges were to set up a border police force with powers to track down and remove illegal migrants and to raise the minimum age for spouses coming to Britain to 21, and ensure they can speak English. |
| Shadow immigration minister Damian Green told the BBC: "To ask somebody who is 18 to take this decision which will be momentous for the rest of their life is not right - and we know there are abuses to the system." | Shadow immigration minister Damian Green told the BBC: "To ask somebody who is 18 to take this decision which will be momentous for the rest of their life is not right - and we know there are abuses to the system." |
| Mr Cameron said the Conservatives would make it a priority to get people "off benefits and into work", in order to reduce demand for migrant labour. | Mr Cameron said the Conservatives would make it a priority to get people "off benefits and into work", in order to reduce demand for migrant labour. |
| 'Smokescreen' | 'Smokescreen' |
| Asked whether he was abandoning the political centre ground and moving back to core Tory values, he said: "I just don't accept that actually having a proper understanding of population, demography, household formation or poverty is somehow a left wing issue or a right wing issue. | Asked whether he was abandoning the political centre ground and moving back to core Tory values, he said: "I just don't accept that actually having a proper understanding of population, demography, household formation or poverty is somehow a left wing issue or a right wing issue. |
| "I think if you want politicians that want to try and make positive changes in our country, improve the quality of life, strengthen our economy, deal with all the problems I've talked about , you have to address this issue. | "I think if you want politicians that want to try and make positive changes in our country, improve the quality of life, strengthen our economy, deal with all the problems I've talked about , you have to address this issue. |
| Does David Cameron have a magic number in mind or does he seriously think that immigration can be turned on and off like a tap? Nick CleggLib Dems | Does David Cameron have a magic number in mind or does he seriously think that immigration can be turned on and off like a tap? Nick CleggLib Dems |
| "What matters is are you addressing it in a way that is sensible, rational, reasonable and comprehensive and I think we are." | "What matters is are you addressing it in a way that is sensible, rational, reasonable and comprehensive and I think we are." |
| But immigration minister Liam Byrne said Mr Cameron's plans were a "smokescreen", as 80% of immigrants to Britain last year were from the European Economic Area. | But immigration minister Liam Byrne said Mr Cameron's plans were a "smokescreen", as 80% of immigrants to Britain last year were from the European Economic Area. |
| "The British people are worried about immigration and that's why they expect serious, thought-through policies, not populist sound bites. Sadly that's what they have come to expect from David Cameron," he added. | "The British people are worried about immigration and that's why they expect serious, thought-through policies, not populist sound bites. Sadly that's what they have come to expect from David Cameron," he added. |
| Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was "fantasy politics" and said Mr Cameron was "pandering to the right wing in his own party and claims that immigration numbers should be cut without having the faintest clue as to how that would happen". | Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said it was "fantasy politics" and said Mr Cameron was "pandering to the right wing in his own party and claims that immigration numbers should be cut without having the faintest clue as to how that would happen". |
| UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said British Conservatives in the European Parliament had been "the greatest enthusiasts of open borders to Eastern Europe, which is where the huge rise in immigration has come from". |