The Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration today threw their weight behind an e-petition launched by Migration Watch UK calling on the Government to get net immigration down from 240,000 last year to something like 50,000 a year.

The Co-Chairmen, Frank Field MP and Nicholas Soames MP, said: “We warmly welcome this petition. It gives people the chance that they have never had before to express their views to Parliament and to secure a debate.”

Petition:

"Over the past ten years the government has permitted mass immigration despite very strong public opposition reflected in numerous opinion polls. We express our deep concern that, according to official figures, the population of the UK is expected to reach 70 million within 20 years with two thirds of the increase due to immigration. While we recognise the benefits that properly controlled immigration could bring to our economy and society, this population increase, which is the equivalent of building seven cities the size of Birmingham, will have a huge impact both on our quality of life and on our public services yet the public has never been consulted. So we call on the government to take all necessary steps to get immigration down to a level that will stabilise our population as close to the present level as possible and, certainly, well below 70 million."

To sign click here

Prime Minister's Speech on Immigration - 10th October, 2011