Home secretary announces new conditions for immigrants

Immigrants who want to gain British citizenship and permanently settle in the UK will be forced to take more tests and pay more, the government plans.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith announced to MPs today that migrants would be required to demonstrate their contribution to British society beyond working and paying taxes.

The plans declared that future migrants seeking citizenship would have to "earn" the right to become British.

Included within the measures announced by the home secretary was the increase of visa fees to raise funds for public services.

More English testing would also be needed as would further requirements to prove integration into local communities.

"Our new deal for citizenship is clear and fair," Ms Smith said in the House of Commons.

"The rights and benefits of citizenship will be available to those who can demonstrate a commitment to our shared values and a willingness to contribute to our community.

"This is a country of liberty and tolerance, opportunity and diversity. These values are reinforced by the expectation that all who love here should learn by our language, play by our rules, obey the law and contribute to the economy," she said.

Under the new rules, it would be harder for someone to gain citizenship if they had broken the law.

Reversely, migrants' route to becoming British could be accelerated if they engaged in activities that benefited local communities, such as charity work.

The Conservatives however were quick dismiss the proposals as a "gimmick" and shadow home secretary David Davis claimed the Tories would propose a much "simpler" option.

"The sensible approach is very simple. Put a limit on the level of immigration. Bring it down to manageable level. It is simpler, it is cheaper, and it is better for Britain," Mr Davis said.

"Yet again the home secretary has reached for a complicated and bureaucratic solution when a simple and cheap one is available."