A Limit on Immigration

Lower population growth by reducing immigration

Under Labour, Britain has become a more divided and segregated society. Lack of integration and social cohesion in the UK lies at the root. There are several contributing factors: Labour's failed policies of state-driven multiculturalism, educational underachievement, lack of immigration controls, and politically correct tolerance of unacceptable cultural practices.

Gordon Brown has been in power for 13 years, and minority communities are now more likely than ever to be trapped in a cycle of poverty, benefit dependency and social immobility. Total net migration to the UK, has increased from 48,000 in 1997 to 163,000 in 2008 and more than half a million primary school pupils do not speak English as a first language.

   -  Integration is infinitely harder in the absence of social justice. That is why we will mend our broken society, raising standards in schools, bringing immigration under control and rebuilding our economy.
   -  We will introduce a clear strategy for national integration, to build a stronger and more united society. We will introduce a National Citizen Service; supporting faith, voluntary and charitable groups; expand Combined Cadet Forces; teach British history in our schools; and encourage the celebration of England's National Day.
   -  We will also improve access to English classes for minority communities; introduce an English Language requirement for those coming to the UK on marriage visas; tackle unacceptable cultural practices and ensure there is no room for parallel legal systems in the UK.
   -  We would tackle extremism which promotes violence or hatred, not just violent extremism. Support those most vulnerable to radicalisation, and those already radicalised, through targeted intervention strategies and integrate counter terrorism tasking into effective community policing.

Britain can benefit from immigration, but not uncontrolled immigration. Look at any aspect of life today and you can see the contribution that migrants have brought - and not just to the economy. We want to continue to attract the brightest and the best people to the UK - but with control on the overall numbers coming here.

    -  A Conservative government will reduce immigration to the levels of the 1990s - tens of thousands a year, instead of the hundreds of thousands a year under Labour.
   -  Annual Limit on Non-EU Economic Migration. For economic migrants from outside the EU we have proposed a two-stage process for deciding which applications should be successful. The first stage would be to make eligible for admission those who will benefit the economy.
   -  The second stage would control the numbers, taking into account the wider effects on society. These effects include the ability of the public services and infrastructure to cope with new arrivals at both national and local levels, the environmental impact of a rapidly rising population, and the potential effects on community cohesion.
   -  Transitional Controls for New EU Entrants. A further step we can take to control immigration directly is the imposition of transitional controls for future new EU entrants. This means placing temporary restrictions on the movement of workers from Accession States. They should be applied here as they are in other countries.
   -  A National Border Police Force. It is impossible to control immigration without proper border controls. In February 2007, we announced that a Conservative government would create a dedicated border police force, with all the necessary powers to arrest, detain and prosecute offenders. Gordon Brown's Border Agency, launched in April 2008, only combines the work of the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and UKvisas, and does not include the police. We will refocus existing police and Home Office resources to create a dedicated border police force designed to help protect the UK from terrorism, serious and organised crime, people trafficking and drug smuggling, illegal immigration and major economic threats.
   -  Closing Loophole in the Student Visa System. We will introduce tighter rules for student visas to make sure these are not abused. We want to encourage the brightest and best students to our universities; we need those who can contribute to the revitalisation of our knowledge-based economy. But abuse of the student visa system is not fair on genuine students, or on British taxpayers - and it has created a security loophole that must be closed. A Conservative Government would set a bond for foreign students that would be repaid at the end of their courses, clamp down on bogus colleges, only allow institutions which are officially registered to sponsor students, and end 'in-country' switching between student and work visas.
   -  Tackling Human Trafficking. We will crack down on the criminal gangs engaged in this evil trade and protect the victims they prey on. In 2007, we were the first to call for the UK to sign the European Convention on Human Trafficking. The Government followed our lead and signed it in March 2007, but did not ratify the Convention until December 2008.
   -  We would also establish a helpline to provide information for women who have been trafficked and replace ad hoc police operations with a properly organised approach to make trafficking a police priority and prosecute more traffickers. We would allow border officials to conduct separate interviews at all airports for women and children travelling alone with an adult who is not a parent, guardian or husband, to identify potential victims of trafficking. We will also ensure each police force and LGA has a strategy for dealing with suspected victims of trafficking.