Migrant numbers 'must be reduced'

The number of migrants allowed into the UK under the points system may have to be reduced because of the economic crisis, an immigration minister says.

Phil Woolas told the Times immigration became an "extremely thorny" subject when people were losing their jobs.

"It's been too easy to get into this country in the past and it's going to get harder," he said.

The Home Office said the current points-based system provided "a powerful and flexible set of controls".

The government has recently introduced the points-based system to attract migrants from outside the EU judged to be most valuable to the economy.
But Mr Woolas said: "If people are being made unemployed, the question of immigration becomes extremely thorny."

"This government isn't going to allow the population to go up to 70 million," he continued.

"There has to be a balance between the number of people coming in and the number of people leaving."

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the population grew by nearly two million to 60,975,000 people between 2001 and 2007.

Ministers have previously resisted calls for an overall limit on immigration.

BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said it was significant Mr Woolas had quoted 70 million as the upper limit for the UK population.

The government had, before now, fought shy of setting a "population policy" because it was difficult for ministers to explain how it would be managed, he said.

Our correspondent explained this was because immigration from inside the EU could not be controlled, neither could a limit be placed on genuine claims for asylum.

This meant there would be "all sorts of questions raised" about how the government was going to achieve its aim, he added.

'Turning point'

Sir Andrew Green, the chairman of Migrationwatch, which argues for balanced migration, told BBC Five Live Mr Woolas's remarks showed a significant development in the immigration debate.

"I think this could be a significant turning point. I think the economic crisis has shown up the weakness of uncontrolled immigration.

"This is the very first time that a government minister has recognised the link between immigration and population. The government have been in denial about that for years."

But the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz, told the Times he would be "astonished" at a Labour immigration minister "in effect changing the policy".

The Labour MP added: "His predecessor and the home secretary have made it very clear they do not support a quota."

Habib Rahman, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, also told the paper: "This could drive a coach and horses through any notion of managed migration through the government's new points-based system... on which it held long and detailed consultations before unveiling it as the answer to the country's economic needs."

Immigration controls

A Home Office spokesman said the government's points-based system provided "a powerful and flexible set of controls".

These allow the government "to raise or lower the bar according to the needs of business and the country as a whole".

He added: "Our tough new Australian points system, plus our plans for newcomers to earn their citizenship, will reduce overall numbers of economic migrants coming to Britain, and the numbers awarded permanent settlement.

"Crucially the points system means only the migrants with the skills Britain needs can come - and no more.

"Had the points-based system been in place last year there would have been 12% fewer people coming in to work through the equivalent work permit route."