Conservative leader David Cameron said on Thursday he wanted to limit the numbers of people coming from outside the European Union to work in Britain as he unveiled his party's new policy on immigration, according to Reuters. Immigration needed to be "significantly less" than at present to reduce pressure on hospitals, housing and schools. The party wants to manage immigration by only allowing those who will benefit the economy to come to Britain, with the overall number limited by the capacity of public services and other infrastructure. "We are saying: look at the economic benefits of migration, make sure we make the most of them, but then actually have a limit which is set according to the pressures of health and education and housing. That's sensible politics," he told BBC television. Immigration remains a hot political topic with official figures last week showing that Britain's population rose by 500 people a day in 2005 as the number of new immigrants dwarfed the total leaving the country. On Tuesday, the government announced a tougher immigration regime with new rules for highly skilled foreign workers coming the Britain. Last month it said it would restrict the influx of migrant workers from Bulgaria and Romania after they join the European Union in January in a shift from the open-door policy adopted towards other eastern Europeans. But the government has resisted moves towards annual limits on immigration, saying this is opposed by British business. Home Secretary John Reid said Cameron should back the government's plans for identity cards if he was "serious" about managing migration. Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday that all foreigners from outside the European Union would need a British identity card to find work or claim benefits in Britain under a new scheme coming into force from 2008.
