Gordon Brown Speech Addresses the Critics on UK Immigration

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, Nov 16 (MARKET WIRE) --
Gordon Brown has today attempted to right the wrongs of previous
mistakes, in a sweeping speech given in front of a packed conference room
in West London, he forthrightly outlined what now must take place in
order for the Governments' policy on immigration to regain some respect.

Speaking at times mechanically and without the natural enthusiasm of his
predecessor, at fleeting moments Brown seemed to be learning of the new
proposals himself. For the reforms certainly came thick and fast. Every
aspect of the system that has come under scrutiny in the past couple of
months seemingly addressed.

As the bullish address continued, in front of the worlds media, it seemed
Brown's line on UK immigration hadn't so much as changed as mutated into
a new approach to the issue, Brown again reiterated that 'The economy had
to grow' and that 'managed migration' was the way to do that. At one
point Brown pointed to the 'immeasurable benefits' that immigrants to
this country offered, a phrase all too familiar with the party faithful.
This was however aimed at an altogether different audience, the
undertaking being to keep afloat his credibility as a leader and someone
in control of the country's policy on UK immigration.

The Prime Minister went on to tackle all the concerns we at this company
have been voicing for weeks. He stated that UK student visas were being
suspended, and went on to praise the University system and those foreign
students that currently are enrolled in it, Brown cited institutions
lower down the pecking order as those culpable for the abuses of the
current student visa and vowed to tackle those that had exploited it.

The new UK points system was at the centre of his speech today, of which
he said was changing to reflect the needs of the economy.

"This is a system not ready to deal with the changes in global trends,"
And continued with the words that "Government must change to meet the new
challenges put before it."

He went on to say certain jobs will no longer be included within the
system. He also outlined new guidelines for employers hiring foreign
workers, stating that jobs advertised will now have to be made available
for UK workers for a period of 4 weeks as opposed to the previous 2,
before employers look further a field to fill the vacancy.

The answers to questions raised about rules governing immigration were
wheeled out one after another. In what seemed to be a retort for
Tuesday's news, of the arrests in Manchester of illegal workers, he put
forward a plan to raise fines for employers hiring such workers, saying
that the government was 'passionate' about such an issue and had long
fought for a fair wage for everyone.

Also in the raft of new proposals was the measure of imposing a
probationary period for migrants of between 1-5 years, after which time
they will be judged on what they have achieved and whether they warrant
staying in the country. This was a very clear resolution to critics that
cite immigrants as doing nothing but draining the state of hand-outs and
benefits. With the new system put in place all immigrants would be
entitled to benefits, they would however be used when they are needed
most and not as a long-term living mechanism.

Brown said that there would be "More expectations put on people that want
to stay here permanently."

He mixed this new policy with a Labour line borrowed from the Tony Blair
years, saying he wanted "...to strengthen what it means to be British."
Perhaps a little optimistically proposing that migrants to the UK will be
expected to contribute to the communities in which they live, in the form
of community service and volunteering.

This certainly was a speech packed with plans and changes, Gordon Brown
answering every criticism of the immigration system in almost categorical
style. Certain changes were needed and the abuses of the system that were
taking place have today been addressed, what is now clear is that the
Prime Minister does not want the British public to feel that he is not
listening, or at least his advisors have been.

Policy is being adjusted to change with a changing world Mr Brown said
today, this is of course true, and one feels that he has provided an
adequate appraisal of what's wrong and what to fix.

However, 'Words' as one satirist once put it 'are cheap' and Gordon
Brown's speech encompassed so much of the UK immigration problem, that
plans of how he is to tackle it were not touched on. Today he has set-out
his stand-point on the issue of immigration, this being the first major
speech on immigration he has given since arriving in office, this it
seems is his working manifesto on the subject.

The feeling that this is just a build-up to the general election is a
tangible one; the issues covered today serving as a necessary pre-emptive
attack against the Tories, on what remains a core issue to many voters.

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