Prime Minister Gordon Brown Promises a Fair Emigration System

According to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a re-elected labor government will deliver a controlled and fair emigration system. It would be flexible enough to meet the needs of British businesses. Gordon Brown went on to argue that Conservative plans for an annual cap on non-EU emigrants would be arbitrary, unworkable and bad for the economy.

In Brown's third major speech on emigration since becoming a Prime Minister, he acknowledged that the question of who comes to Britain is a reasonable issue for voters to consider in the upcoming general election. He also said that it is right for politicians to address their concerns on the matter. However, he did go on to attack those, who he says, are spreading the impression that emigration is out of control for political reasons. Figures show that this is, in fact, false and inward emigration has clearly fallen over recent years.

The Prime Minister will call on all mainstream parties to present a united front against those who seek to bring a halt to emigration simply because of their animosity toward emigrants. He said that the question is who has the best plan to control emigration, not who can appeal to the worst instincts of nationalism and xenophobia. Who can appeal to the best instinct for a fairer Britain for all?

Brown also said that by controlling emigration for a fairer Britain, by investing in the skills of the workforce, everyone can ensure that the flexibility for UK businesses is there. Everyone can opt for an arbitrary and unworkable quota and deny UK businesses the skills that they need. This would damage the UK's competitiveness and threaten the future of Britain altogether.