London: A Labour MP has accused
Britain`s Home Secretary Theresa May of watering down a Tory
pledge to bar immigrants unless they can speak good English.
The promise was part of Conservative leader David
Cameron`s election campaign but it has now been disclosed that
families of asylum seekers allowed to settle in the UK will be
exempt from the ban.
Labour MPs said the Conservatives had been forced to
drop their hardline stance by their Liberal Democrat coalition
partners who support uncontrolled immigration.
Former Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said: "This
ruling means that a British man who marries, say, a Brazilian
girl who can`t speak English will not be able to bring her
into this country.
"An Afghan who gets here on the back of a lorry and
successfully claims asylum can bring his Afghan wife, children
and grandparents in - even if they don`t speak English.
"The Tories gave the impression that the English
speaking test would apply to all immigrants.
"It is now clear that is not the case. It is
absolutely essential that all immigrants speak English if they
are to integrate with the rest of society. This is clear
evidence that the Lib Dem tail is wagging the Conservative dog
in this Coalition.
PTI
