Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East
Thurrock, has welcomed new steps set out by the Prime Minister to ensure we
have an immigration system that favours people who work hard and want to get on
in life.
Tough reforms of all the routes of immigration to the UK have already
been implemented by the Conservatives and have seen net immigration fall by almost
a third since the last general election.
Stephen said: "Many people in Basildon and Thurrock are
concerned about the issue of immigration and after thirteen years of open
borders under Labour it is no wonder. Conservatives in Government have
implemented a comprehensive policy of reform to our immigration system to make
it more robust and more selective. These reforms have seen net immigration cut
by a third since the general election."
"I welcome the new steps which the Prime Minister has set
out to ensure that everyone who comes here pays their way and gives something
back. By changing the rules on benefits and NHS treatment we will stop our
system from being a ‘soft touch’. Making entitlement to public services
something migrants earn and not an automatic right will stop the ‘something for
nothing’ culture which grew up under Labour. These are common sense reforms and
they will make a difference for people in South Essex."
