英伦广角 Issue 129 英拟收紧移民政策

In the reshuffle, the Prime Minister has put me in change of the immigration policy? Phil Woolas’ appointment as Immigration Minister ruffled² a few feathers amongst pro-immigration campaigners, and his latest comments would have done nothing to ease their worries. Out and about in his Oldham constituency, the minister laid out his argument/ for curbing⁴ the number of people who are allowed to settle in this country. Mindful of the race riots which scarred Oldham in 2001. I think we have to, as a country, talk about immigration, not talking about it is what led to the problems in my constituency 7 years ago. The lesson of that was that we have to talk about it. We have to do so, in a mature way and a non-discriminatory way, informed by facts, but we have to talk about it. Among the voters of Oldham, Mr. Woolas' views seem to chime.

 

We need to know how many people are coming, and how many people are living in this country, I think he is doing the right thing.

 

we can't get jobs and there is too many people, so I think, definitely, this is something required about that.

 

If you come in and made the effort to come here, then you should be working, not just to live off and feed off the benefit and everything we've got. We have worked for that. So I don't think it's fair that people should be coming in the end, just living off benefits, they should be working, there should be a limit and restriction⁵.

 

But immigration-support groups are concerned. The government's stance is the thin end of an unworkable wedge.

 

There are large number of skills in this country, which we cannot fill from, within the indigenous⁶ population, or the European Economic Area. And those people, they are gonna have to come in from outside. We are a trading nation.

 

The Home Office says it's points-based system, similar to that used in Australia, will allow flexible migration¹. And if it had been up and running last year, 12% fewer migrant workers would have been allowed in. The system is complex and covers a number of skills. For example, a highly skilled migrant who wants to settle permanently⁷ in the UK needs to score a total of 75 points or more from a series of categories.

 

Education is important. If you've got a PhD, you will score 50 points. But a bachelor's degree is only worth 30. Age plays a big part, too. The younger, the better. Those who are under 28 get 20 points. If you are over 31, you get nothing. High earners, too, are valued. Those earning the equivalent of 40,000 pounds or more a year get 45 points. But less pay means fewer points, just 5 is the lowest category.

 

With recession around the corner and unemployment rising, the government is acutely aware that doing nothing to curb³ immigration would leave it open to the accusation⁸ that British jobs were being snapped up by foreign workers.

 

David Bowden, Sky News.

 

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 ruffled   

adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She ruffled his hair affectionately. 她情意绵绵地拨弄着他的头发。
• All this talk of a strike has clearly ruffled the management's feathers. 所有这些关于罢工的闲言碎语显然让管理层很不高兴。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

5 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

6 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

7 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。