By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband promised to crack down on immigration if his party is elected next year, seeking to woo voters tempted by the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), which could threaten his chances of winning power.

The increasing popularity of UKIP, which wants tighter immigration controls along with an EU exit, has pushed Britain’s main parties to take a tougher line.

Labour has traditionally been more positive towards immigration than its political rivals and its last period in power, from 1997 to 2010, saw high rates of immigration.

Last week Prime Minister David Cameron also hardened his line on the issue, saying more needed to be done and promising he would outline new plans in the coming weeks.

His governing Conservative Party has already lost two of its lawmakers to UKIP, which won its first parliamentary seat earlier this month and is on course to win a second on Nov. 20, according to a poll on Thursday.

Speaking in southeast England where that single-seat vote is taking place, Miliband promised a Labour government would introduce new laws on immigration in its first year, including preventing recruitment agencies hiring only from abroad.

Greater controls would be put in place at borders to keep track of who has come in and out of the country, he said, also pledging to seek EU reforms including lengthening the period before migrants are entitled to claim welfare payments.

“Our plan to make this country work for your family also includes addressing immigration,” Miliband said, adding that he would set out further plans on immigration in the coming months.

“We should seek to tackle the concerns that people have … We must understand these are real issues and show that we are ready to act on them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach on immigration.”

The rise of UKIP, support for which nationwide polls have shown reaching a record high of 25 percent, not only threatens Cameron’s re-election drive by splitting the right-wing vote, but also poses a challenge to left-leaning Labour.

Earlier this month Labour narrowly retained a parliamentary seat in its traditional heartland in northern England, with UKIP coming a close second with almost 39 percent of the vote, up from less than 3 percent in 2010.

While Labour is slightly ahead in nationwide polls of voting intention for the 2015 election, some in his party worry Miliband’s poor personal ratings are an electoral liability.

A YouGov poll on Thursday showed just 16 percent of people thought Miliband would make the best prime minister, equal to his lowest-ever ranking, last hit in January 2012, and compared to 36 percent of people who favored Cameron.

Miliband has been derided for forgetting vital parts of his address to his party’s final pre-election annual conference last month, including the section on immigration, despite it being one of voters’ top concerns.

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Andrew Roche)

• Politics & Government
• Elections
• Ed Miliband
• David Cameron
• UK Independence Party
• immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Wednesday cautioned against making assumptions about President Barack Obama’s changes to immigration rules based on a new federal contract proposal from the Homeland Security Department to buy enough supplies to make as many as 34 million immigrant work permits and residency cards over the next five years.

The Associated Press reported earlier in the day the contract proposal suggested that the Obama administration appeared to be preparing for an increase in the number work permit applications form of immigrants living illegally in the country. The U.S. government produces about 3 million work permits and residency identification, known as green cards, annually. The new contract for at least 5 million cards a year would provide the administration with the flexibility to issue far more work permits or green cards even if it chose not to exercise that option.

“I think those who are trying to read into those specific orders about what the president may decide are a little too cleverly trying to divine what the president’s ultimate conclusion might be,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “What I would caution you against is making assumptions about what will be in those announcements based on the procurement practices of the Department of Homeland Security.”

Earnest did not say whether Obama plans to issue more work permits.

Obama announced earlier this year that if Congress didn’t pass immigration legislation, he would act on his own. After twice postponing a final decision, he said as recently as last month that he would hold off on executive actions until after November’s midterm elections.

The administration has repeatedly declined to say what options Obama was considering, but it is widely believed that he will expand protections from deportation already extended to more than 500,000 young immigrants who came to the United States as children. Under that program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, many young immigrants who are in school or who have graduated and don’t have a criminal record can win protection from deportation for up to two years. They are also eligible for work permits.

The president does not have the legal authority unilaterally to offer immigrants living in the country illegally green cards or any other permanent immigration status. But administration officials have said the president can authorize protection from deportation for immigrants on a case-by-case basis, such as with the DACA program, and issue them work permits.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez told an audience at a Georgetown University Law Center conference Tuesday that his agency was ready for whatever immigration changes Obama may announce. He declined to provide details.

USCIS confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that it published a draft contract proposal to buy the card stock needed to make work permits and permanent resident cards, more commonly known as green cards. The proposal calls for providing material for at least 5 million cards a year, with as many as 9 million “during the initial period … to support possible future immigration reform initiative requirements.” The contract calls for as many 34 million cards over five years.

USCIS spokesman Christopher Bentley described the proposal posted earlier this month a routine contract solicitation.

“Solicitations of this nature are frequent practice,” Bentley said. He said the number of immigration applications can rise “for any number of any reasons.”

The contract proposal was first reported by the online news site Breitbart.com.

___

Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap

• Politics & Government
• Immigration Issues
• Barack Obama
• Homeland Security Department
• The White House