PM To Tighten Immigration Rules

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced his intention to tighten the points-based immigration system by reducing the number of professions which can recruit staff from outside Europe.

During a speech in west London this morning, Mr Brown said that he favoured a "tough but fair approach" to immigration under which the government would decide what categories of skills were allowed into the country.

He said points-based immigration creates a system that serves the national interest by "recognising what we, as a country, need for a successful economy; but also what will strengthen our society and our communities.

"Under this system, first and foremost - we must continue our efforts to equip our people with the skills they need to compete in the global economy."

The Prime Minister also said that the government needed to manage the impact of immigration on communities through mainstream funding and the new Migration Impact Fund, which would see newcomers pay an additional contribution to help ease the pressures of population change.

Migrants wanting to stay in the UK permanently would also be required to "earn" UK citizenship.

Mr Brown also stressed that the government was continuing to focus on strengthening UK borders and said that overall net immigration dropped by 44% over the last year.

However, the proposals have been dismissed by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said that the proposals showed that the Prime Minister had "no idea" about how to deal with the whole issue of immigration, while Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne accused Mr Brown of "attempting to shut the stable door long after the horse has bolted".

(KMcA/BMcC)