Brown's jobs-for-Brits pledge deemed 'illegal'

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The Prime Minister last month pledged to fast-track the unemployed off benefits and into jobs which are currently being filled by foreigners.

He also confirmed that foreign workers who apply to enter the UK will have to show they have passed an English language test.

This is aimed at cutting by up to 35,000 a year the numbers entering the UK from outside the EU to take jobs.

But a report compiled by the Commons library, says: "The question asked is to what extent these arrangements represent a specific benefit to British nationals as opposed to people from other countries.

"There is apparently nothing in the detail of the proposals to suggest that foreign nationals will be excluded from any of the initiatives."

The report goes on to say that, in any case, 'both direct and indirect discrimination-against migrant workers from the EU is prohibited.

"Indirect discrimination focuses on the effect of a measure and whether it would have a greater impact or impose a greater burden on nationals of other member states."

It added that such measures would be 'unlawful unless objectively justified'.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling said: "This is the first independent assessment we have had and it found that all the things that Gordon Brown is promising to do are illegal."