Tougher immigration rules announced in Queen's Speech

A fresh attempt to curb immigration is the centre piece of the government's legislative programme for the year ahead, as set out in today's Queen's Speech, BBC News reports.

According to BBC News, the speech announced an Immigration Bill which aims to "ensure that this country attracts people who will contribute and deter those who will not."

The bill will make it easier to deport foreign criminals and those who enter the UK illegally.

The bill also ensures that migrants in the UK illegally cannot get driving licences, and requires private landlords to check their tenants' immigration status. In addition, employers who take on migrants who are not entitled to work will face bigger fines.

The Home Office gives the following details of the bill on Gov.uk: "It will ensure Article 8 is not abused by individuals trying to avoid removal by giving the full force of primary legislation to the policy we have already set out in the Immigration Rules."

"Landlords would also be required to check the immigration status of tenants and could face fines for failing to do so. Fines for rogue employers who use illegal labour would be doubled."

"Access to public services for temporary migrants would also be regulated to ensure those accessing the NHS and other services are making a contribution."

Habib Rahman of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) criticised the bill, saying: “This is a vicious mix of red tape and denial of services and justice designed to appease tabloid editors, and to further exasperate public anxiety. This will serve to unnecessarily criminalise people in pursuit of a meaningless attack on migrants and foreign nationals. The Government is playing politics by introducing these discriminatory policies – we will see people suffer as a result. We will see the cost of bureaucracy climb significantly as the Government impose appalling measures in the hope of a little popularity.”