Gordon Brown accused of ‘death-bed’ immigration vow

Gordon Brown was today accused of a "death-bed conversion" on immigration by bowing to calls for tougher controls.

He announced a tightening up of the Government's points-based immigration system and signalled a crackdown on visitors granted student visas who then start working here illegally.

While denying that he was imposing an immigration cap, he insisted that the population would not rise to 70 million by 2029 as forecast.

Responding to public concerns over immigration, highlighted by the British National Party's electoral success, Mr Brown said: "Do I get it? Yes, I get it."

In a speech in Ealing he also pledged that more British workers would be trained to fill job vacancies.

Lib-Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: "It's extraordinary that Labour is having a death-bed conversion on immigration after years of inadequate border controls." The Tories accused the Government of offering tougher rhetoric but not better policies after a union poll showed immigration was the biggest reason for Labour voters deserting the party.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "Gordon Brown's speech had a hollow ring. This is the Government that tried to cover up a deliberate policy of increasing immigration."

Tory MP Nicholas Soames and Labour backbencher Frank Field, co-chairmen of cross-party group Balanced Migration, said: "The points system has no limit, affects just 20 per cent of immigration, and will not stop the population hitting 70 million in 2029."

Mr Brown announced today that hospital consultants, civil engineers, aircraft engineers and ship's officers are being removed from a list of workers needed from abroad. British workers will be given more job opportunities, with an extension of the period for which jobs must be advertised before overseas workers are sought. A review will consider whether visas should be granted only to foreign students on degree and postgraduate courses.