IMMIGRATION Minister Phil Woolas today declined to commit to a specific cap on immigration despite earlier pledging the Government would not allow the population to exceed 70 million.
Amid demands from the Tories for an annual limit on non-EU immigration and calls for a limit on the numbers allowed to permanently settle in the UK, Mr Woolas stressed there should be no "automaticity" between working in the UK and getting citizenship.
But he said it was "very difficult" to say what any cap should be for workers from non-EU countries.
And pressed in a BBC interview to say whether or not the UK's population should rise above 70 million, he would only refer to the Government's pre-announced policy of a points-based migration system.
The Minister had said in an interview with The Times yesterday that increasingly tough economic conditions made the issue of immigration "extremely thorny" and it had been "too easy to get into this country in the past and it's going to get harder".
But he came under fire from members of his own party who suggested he was "pandering to right-wing extremists", a suggestion branded "deeply hurtful" today by Mr Woolas.
But Labour MP Frank Field and Tory Nicholas Soames, who both chair a cross-party parliamentary group calling for balanced migration, welcomed what they saw as a shift in Government policy.
The pair said: "Clearly the Government is looking at fundamental changes to the immigration system - for example by breaking the link between giving non-EU citizens the right to work here and allowing them to settle permanently in the UK.
"This would be a great step forward but what we really need is a clear commitment to putting a limit on the number of people allowed to settle here. What we need now is real action not just tough talk."
In an interview with BBC'1 The Politics Show, Mr Woolas was asked if he still thought there should be a cap on the number of immigrants coming to the UK. He said: "I think there is a lot of nonsense talked about the cap ... the EU population can come and go, just as we can live in Spain or France, so too can others come to this country.
"So it is very difficult to say, even if you are in favour of a cap, what it should be," he said.
"But what we can do is look at the period of time and a work permit of course limits the period of time that a person could come to this country to work."
Trends
On the specifics of his comments suggesting the Government would not allow a rise above 70 million, he said: "Frank Field and his colleague Nicholas Soames raised this point that if you extrapolate recent trends the population of the country would go up by seven million.
"We are already introducing changes with the points-based system and I can give assurances to people that that sort of figure is not on the horizon.
"The points-based system, had we introduced it a year ago there would be 12% less migratory workers in this country now than there are at the moment.
"We think this is a good mechanism but it doesn't affect people's rights, it has got nothing to do with the debate about race relations and permanent settlement that some people have reacted to my comments yesterday."
Asked if he was saying that there could be no limit whatsoever he said: "No I am not saying there couldn't be no limit whatsoever.
He added: "It is not a simple message and I am sorry if people are confused about it.
"There will be limits on worker migration and of course we will look at the total population in that context."
Asked about calls to break the link between people who come to work in the UK and an "automaticity" in getting citizenship, Mr Woolas said: "I agree with that point.
"The public need ... want and have the right to reassurance on that point that if somebody comes to a country or indeed if you visit another country for a specific purpose that there should be no automaticity between living and working in an area or studying in an area and staying in that country.
"That is one of the things that we will be ensuring is part of our policy."
Mr Woolas denied he had an electoral motive. "The accusations against me are deeply hurtful. This is an issue that I have been passionately involved in all of my adult life.
"It is the reason why I got involved in politics, to tackle racial discrimination and to help people who are immigrants.
"But we can only do that if the public are reassured that we have got a tough immigration policy and it is implemented.
"That is what I think most upsets and annoys people, that they see laws that are not implemented. The Prime Minister has asked me to do that and that's what I am going to do."
He added: "We are going to be tough in implementing these policies. It is very important that the public are reassured that the authorities, including the Government, know who is coming into our country and who is leaving it.
"My job is to be as tough as we can, implement that whilst at the same time changing the regime for people who earn citizenship to our country to help them to help themselves more than we have done in the past.
"So if you like, it is a tough and tender policy."
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the population grew by nearly 2 million people to 60,975,000 between 2001 and 2007.
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: “The Minister has admitted that behind his words there is no action. We will do more than give warm interviews.
“We will introduce an annual limit on non-EU immigration, transitional controls on immigration from new member states, and establish a dedicated UK border police force.”
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Woolas denies immigrant cap
October 19, 2008
Points-based system will cut back on migrant workers
Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All
sweary mary (19/10/2008 at 15:36)
Woolas you are now in a position to do something about the state of the borders, don't lose this opportunity to make Britain great again.
If you want some ideas, just ask the public we've plenty of them!!!!
Esso Blue,, Lake titicaca, Bolivia Y Peru (19/10/2008 at 15:38)
Immigration is good for the economy if that is what has to be done, but at the same time you have to consider that the people who are coming here are willing to be law abiding citizens and to respect fallow humans, it’s no good letting in a load of Muppets that hate everything Britain stands for and they just come here just to take advantage and stir up trouble, because in the long term it may well back fire.
I remember an old news reel and the reporter was speaking to an immigrant and the immigrant said that they wanted to mind their own business and they expected the same in return. How times have changed.
dave pickup (19/10/2008 at 16:02)
PW, Manchester (19/10/2008 at 16:38)
Ronald Gillatt (19/10/2008 at 16:43)
Ron Gillatt
a proud Canadian (ex Englishman)
David of Ashton, Ashton (19/10/2008 at 17:47)
Nym78, Swinton (19/10/2008 at 18:17)
In truth, UK education is poor, its native work force is ageing and chavs rule the young. The UK doesn't have to sort its own mess out because immigrants do the dirty work for them. Go ahead and throw them out, but you had better get off your backside yourselves then.
Anipeel, higher openshaw (19/10/2008 at 20:40)
Beaufort (19/10/2008 at 21:02)
Two months later we are in a recession and unemployment is rising at the fastest rate for seventeen years.
It's a bit of a worry that the Prime Minister thinks eight weeks ago that we are booming and need more workers yet now doesn't.
No doubt the usual suspects will accuse anyone who agrees that we should protect our own interests will be accused of being racist.
come.on.city (19/10/2008 at 22:29)
So its ok for you to be an immigrant, but all immigrants coming to Britain are bad?
come.on.city (19/10/2008 at 22:30)
Bean B4, manchester (20/10/2008 at 08:51)
on the contrary, I think you will find that he speaks for the majority - who have been ordered to be quiet for too long.
Jay B, oldham (20/10/2008 at 08:55)
now all they need to do is sort out the mess that is the benefits system and force the lazy scroungers back into work and they'll be in a better shape to wim the next general election.
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (20/10/2008 at 08:57)
PW,
Are you talking immigration, the economy, Europe, Iraq, Hoodies, the huge benefit culture, the high cost of the public sector or all of the above.
Within two days of talk of capping levels, Labour are trying to spin their way out of it again.
They have no clear policy on managed immigration and community cohesion and are not in any hurry to find one, lest they may upset their benefit claiming electorate.
PW, Manchester (20/10/2008 at 10:06)
Last Pint of Holts, Middleton Manchester (20/10/2008 at 10:24)
In fact, a Polish joiner installed my kitchen a few months back. He was considerably cheaper than the quotes I received from local companies, he was VAT registered and employed a 17 year old English lad. The standard of work was superb, he turned up when he said he would and caused no mess!
Many bang on about the Asian communities but many do very well at school and their family’s value education. Look at the numbers of Asians who are in medicine, law and information technology.
I don’t buy into what the press report to much (especially the likes of the Daily Mail) and I don’t hold faith in anything a politician say's, but the proof is in the pudding and I know far more lazy spongers who are English than foreigners!
Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (20/10/2008 at 11:14)
David,North M/C (20/10/2008 at 11:21)
Jay B, oldham (20/10/2008 at 15:00)
our whole traditional way of life is being destroyed.
soon we will not be able to celebrate christmas and easter for fear of offending the countless different cultures that are now here.
Why cant the government stop pussyfooting around on this subject do something about it. because if they carry on pretending that everything is ok the way it is. then the country will just come crashing down.
and this will just give potential votes to the BNP.
S P In exile, Tameside (22/10/2008 at 08:49)
In America the Stars and Stripes is flown from every public building and in everyone’s front garden. Here in England if the union or the St George flag is flown it is cast as a racist symbol and is a no, no, the St Andrews flag of Scotland is flown and people say it’s because the Scots are a proud race.
We should be proud of our flags and fly them from every public building and every home, we have a great history which no other country has. By flying the flag your letting people know who you are and where you are from and your taking pride in your country. If you go to a test match you will see the opponents national flag being worn and flew by the fans of that nation. It is strongly discouraged because of the immigration policy this government has perused over the years
E.g. Equality minister Harriet Harman sets out plans to allow firms to discriminate in favour of female and ethnic minority job candidates.
This government and it’s followers has a lot to answer for they are anti-British they have split the British Isles with it’s devolution policy which will eventually lead to a spitting up of the union. The government is also obsessed with cowering to the EU where they have signed the human rights bill to the detriment of law abiding people.
In total this government has mismanaged this country on a scale that would never have been imagined, two world wars in our history and I hate to say it but were they in vain?