Tory MP Pritchard calls for tough action on illegal immigrants
Wednesday 24th November 2010, 8:46PM GMT.
Immigrants who overstay and abuse their visas should be barred from entering Britain for at least 20 years, a Shropshire MP has said.
Mark Pritchard welcomed Home Secretary Theresa May’s announcement to cut the number of immigrant workers from outside the EU by a fifth to a cap of 21,700 next year. But demanded tougher immigration rules to stamp out illegal migrants.
The Wrekin MP told the Commons: “Given the rampant abuse of tourist, student, work and family visas, is it not time that an incentive is provided for those tempted to overstay or those who have overstayed by saying that they can return to their country of origin voluntarily or be barred from re-entering this country for at least 20 years?
“That would be an incentive that would work.”
Mrs May last night told MPs controlled migration brought benefits but “when immigration gets out of control it places great pressure on our society, economy and public services”.
She said: “Over Labour’s time in office net migration totalled more than 2.2 million people — more than double the population of Birmingham. We cannot go on like this.”
The number of skilled workers with job offers, who enter the UK on tier two visas under the points-based system, will be capped at 20,700. Only 1,000 visas will be given to highly skilled, or tier one, workers with “exceptional talent”.
She also vowed to cut the number of foreign students by up to 125,000.
To fulfil the Government’s pledge to cut net migration from 196,000 to the tens of thousands by 2015, Mrs May confirmed all routes to entry would have to be tackled.
But she bowed to pressure from businesses and said companies would be free to transfer staff from overseas earning more than £40,000 a year.
By London Reporter Sunita Patel
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Why do we allow immigrants into the country when we already have high unemployment.
I know of company’s in Telford who employ high numbers of immigrants when there are plenty of people unemployed in Telford and the surrounding area that can do the job. I suspect but can’t prove that there is some underhanded dealings going on with agencies, the immigrants and the companies that employ them.
If immigrants are proven to be in the country illegally they should be banned for life from entering Britain espcially if they are convicted of any criminal activity.
Paying dole money, social security, free health care and whatever other benefits these people get is a disgrace. Why should the tax payers money be used on these people when there are British people out there than need help and can’t seem to get it
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I can understand limiting immmigrant workers because this takes the jobs of British citizens, but why limit the number of foreign students?
The foreign students bring in much needed income into the country and help finance the universities thus making it cheaper for home students to study.( Before the tories mindless idea of increasing tuition fees for home students!)
I think this will backfire badly on the British economy, I know that many foreign students who were thinking of studying in the U.K have now applied to universities in the U.S. Britains loss is Americas gain.
I will be glad to see the back of this ultra right wing Lib-Dem backed Conservative Government. Roll on the next election!
A glad to be out of Britain ex-pat.
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This is just more spin from the ConDems.
In excess of 400,000 foreigners enter Britain legally each year through various channels, making a mockery of the ConDem’s claim that its new “immigration cap” will cut immigration from “49,700 to 21,700.
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This is just more spin from the ConDems.
In excess of 400,000 foreigners enter Britain legally each year through various channels, making a mockery of the ConDem’s claim that its new “immigration cap” will cut immigration from “49,700 to 21,700.
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Kevin the number of foreign students is being limited because most of them are “BOGUS!” Most of the colleges they claim to be studying at are just rackets to get them into this country – wake up!
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