Shropshire MPs backing strong border control in UK

A report by the University College of London has shown that European immigrants gave more back in taxes between 1995 and 2011 than they cost in public services and benefits.

According to the study, EU migrants provided £4.4billion to the economy, compared to UK born workers, who took out £591billion.

However, the study also showed that immigrants from outside the European Union cost the country £118billion during the same time period.

David Wright, Labour MP for Telford, said : "My view is that immigration has to be properly controlled and managed.

"I want to see stronger border controls to deal with illegal immigrants and we should have proper checks on people coming in and out of the country to ensure that people don't overstay their visas.

"We need stronger action against exploitation that undercuts local wages and jobs.

"I think that people want a tougher system where you can only claim benefits if you have made a contribution to the country through tax and national insurance for a longer period than is currently the case and I don't think you should be able to claim Child Benefit, for example, if your children don't live in the UK."

Campaign group Migration Watch has criticised the report, saying it included a selective use of dates and a broader timescale would have shown a negative contribution. Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, said he too felt the report did not cover enough areas.

He said: "There is no dispute that there have been some economic benefits from EU migration. However, this report is quite narrow in its focus. What it doesn't cover is the huge pressure on a wide range of public services.

"What is needed is a new and more balanced public dialogue on all immigration issues coupled with action to help reduce these pressures and the scale of EU migration – action the Government is taking."