NEWS DIGEST: 19TH FEBRUARY 2009

01. UK’s population timebomb: population to hit 70 million in 20 years

On 19 February, Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration Co-Chair, Nicholas Soames MP published an article on the ConservativeHome website, in which he posed the question “what are we going to do if we don’t want our population to reach 70 million in the net 20 years?” 

His article drew attention to an important graph released by the Cross Party Group in our first newsletter, which shows that due to current policies, the British population is on track to grow from 61 million to 70 million in the next 20 years, and 80 million in mid-century.  His article goes on to set out how a policy of Balanced Migration will address this problem and prevent the population reaching 70 million. 

02. English as a second language in primary schools: reaction

A Parliamentary Question by Cross Party Group Co-Chair Frank Field revealed data showing that there are 591 primary schools in England where English is known or believed to be a second language for 70 per cent or more of pupils.  

The data also showed that in 116 primary schools more than 95 per cent of pupils are known or believed to have English as a second language.  It also showed that in ten schools, 100 per cent of pupils were known or believed to have English as a second language.

There was significant media interest in this story, including a feature piece on BBC One’s 6 o’ clock News during which Frank Field was interviewed.  There was significant further coverage in various regional and national newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph;  Daily Mail; The Huddersfield Daily Examiner; and Rochdale Online (including comment from Immigration Minister Phil Woolas).

03. Group highlights record number of work permits: reaction

On 21 January, the Co-Chairs of the Cross Party group issued a statement about the unemployment figures stating that they increase pressure on the Government to ensure British workers get the first chance to apply for any new vacancy.  The Co-Chairs’ statement referred to the fact that the Government had issued a record number of work permits last year, just as the recession was beginning to bite.

This was covered prominently in both The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail.  

04. Immigration Bill fails “litmus tests”

On 14 January, the Co-Chairs of the Cross Party Group commented on the publication of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill, stating that it failed the two “litmus tests”: to tighten up immigration controls to ensure that British workers and unemployed people are given a fair opportunity to get jobs; and to control immigration so that the British population does not reach 70 million within 20 years.

This was covered by BBC News Online.

05. PM’s jobs summit undermined by jobs for migrant workers

On 12 January, the Co-Chairs of the Cross Party Group released a statement in which they revealed that they had written to the Prime Minister about his pledge to create 100,000 new jobs.  The Co-Chairs questioned whether the Prime Minister’s pledge could be taken seriously given that Government policy allows non-EU migrants to come to the UK to look for work or to take up jobs which British workers and unemployed people have not had the chance to apply for.  

This was covered in the Daily Express.

06. Immigration decision on Bulgarian & Romanian workers doesn’t go far enough

The Co-Chairs of the Cross Party Group welcomed the Home Office’s decision not to relax employment restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian workers on 18 December, but urged ministers to take action to ensure that British workers and unemployed people are given a fair crack at jobs and that non-EU economic migrants are not allowed to come to Britain to look for work “on spec”.

Coverage included an article in The Daily Telegraph.  

07. Balanced Migration needs your support

Please register your support for Balanced Migration at http://www.balancedmigration.com/signup.php.  By registering your email address we will be able to keep you up to date with latest developments in the campaign.