Cross party parliamentarians publish declaration on immigration – “70 million is too many”

The Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration has published what it describes as a ‘ground-breaking Declaration on Immigration’, calling on the major parties to make manifesto commitments to take action to prevent the UK population reaching 70 million in under 20 years, as is officially projected.

The Declaration has been signed by 20 members of both Houses of Parliament last week, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, and former Speaker, Baroness Boothroyd.

This Declaration marks an important moment in the debate about immigration. For the first time, a large number of Parliamentarians from both major parties together with distinguished Cross Bench Peers have come together to publicly urge Gordon Brown and David Cameron to place in this year’s party election manifestos a firm commitment to do what is necessary to prevent our population reaching 70 million by 2029.

The Co-Chairmen of the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration, Frank Field MP and Nicholas Soames MP, said:

“Poll after poll shows the public to be deeply concerned about immigration and its impact on our population. Yet, as we enter the General Election campaign, neither party has promised the British people that they will prevent our population hitting 70 million. It is time the parties turned their rhetoric into reality by making manifesto commitments to prevent our population reaching 70 million by 2029.”

Immigration Matters Comment

The UK still needs immigration, combined with the control mechanism provided by a points-based system, to bring in new blood to both boost the working population and to fill jobs such as care for the elderly and sick.

Recent Government figures reveal that ageing Britain will see a seven-fold hike in citizens over the age of 100 – up from 11,000 to 80,000 by 2033.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) predict that the over-85’s will more than double from 1.3million to 3.3million.

At the moment, for every 10 pensioners there are 32 people of working age. But in 24 years time that will have dropped to just 28 people.

In other words,  by 2033 there will be less people paying into the pensions and welfare ‘pot’, but far more people drawing from it – commonly known as the ‘pensions timebomb’, which is why all political parties recognise the need to increase the age at which we all start to draw our ‘old aged’ state pensions.

Social Care Workers and certain categories of nurses appear on the official shortage occupations list, as recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee in November.

With immigration set to become one of the top five political issues at the next general election in 2101, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas revealed last month that net migration is actually falling.

Related articles:

Two thirds of Britons think UK has immigration problem, says survey

Immigration still needed to fill care jobs

New study reveals impact of immigration on UK religious faiths

New student visa controls would hit language schools warns Kent paper

UKBA continue crackdown on rogue employers

Migrants to be fingerprinted at UK border

UKBA announce changes give British workers more job opportunities

Home Office announce new rules for migrants 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s speech on immigration

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