British Prime Minister to Review and Reduce Immigration Rate

Gordon Brown, The British Prime Minister, in a recent article revealed his plans to tighten the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe and also limit the number of immigrants coming to Britain on student visas. He revealed his plans that doctors and other professionals from outside Europe would be prevented from taking up jobs in the country in a crackdown on immigration. Brown said immigration had been a source of "economic, social and cultural strength for Britain," but he understood concerns about the impact of a rising population on employment, wages and the cost of housing. "I know people worry about whether immigration undermines their wages and the job prospects of their children and they also worry about whether they will get a decent home for their families," he said. "They want to be assured that the system is tough and fair. They want to be assured that newcomers to the country will accept their responsibilities... obey all the laws, speaking English is important, making a contribution."
Addressing the media on the problems arising because of increase in Immigration the Prime Minister said, “The case for managed and controlled immigration was not an issue for many political parties but the emphasis is on the right way of British immigration. Brown has made many reforms after holding the office as a prime minister and the new laws introduced by him are better as per the global trend. Further Mr. Brown promised to tighten the ‘labour market test’ which generally allows employers to recruit skilled workers from outside Britain for a job which would now allow the skilled immigrant to take up the job only in case there is no settled worker that fits for the same. The new test would obligate that the job should be advertised for a month before any immigrant from outside could be recruited. In future as per the prime minister, government sanctioned training schemes would be created to ensure that the unskilled job seekers in Britain could prepare for the jobs in severely shortage job categories like Catering, Supply Teaching or some skilled Medical and Engineering jobs. A review of student visa is also announced that would consider the case for raising the minimum level of course for which students can apply. Under the points system, all employers and colleges will be expected to obtain a license to act as a sponsor for each immigrant and ensure they are following the rules. Brown said a round of inspections of colleges approved to sponsor student applications had seen the list of such institutions cut by more than half – from 4,000 to 1,800 – as well as the temporary shutting down of applications for student visas from parts of China where there had been evidence of abuse.
He stressed the need for a fundamental restatement of what Britain expects of those who aspire to become citizens, as well as strengthening the idea of what it means to be British. "If the main effect of immigration on your life is to make it easier to find a plumber, or when you see doctors and nurses from overseas in your local hospital, you are likely to think more about the benefits of migration than the possible costs. But people want to be assured that newcomers will accept the responsibilities as well as the rights that come with living here – obeying the law, speaking English, and making a contribution. So if people ask me: 'Do I get it?' Yes I get it."
The prime minister said those who wanted to stay in Britain would have to prove their commitment after five years of being in the country by a probation system, which included a clean criminal record. "The changes I have set out today – the new points-based system on entry, and the proposed points-based system for citizenship – amount to far more than a different mechanism for handling immigration," Brown said.
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