'Earned citizenship' plans unveiled

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Measures included in the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill will speed up the process of becoming British for migrants who have jobs, pay tax and contribute to their communities.

Foreigners who commit minor crimes will have to wait and will not be able to claim benefits in the mean time.

Critics said the Bill would not put limits on population numbers.

The Bill will put migrants working in Britain on probation once they have proven they can speak English and have a basic knowledge about the country.

Committing a major crime will mean they are deported, while minor crimes will slow their application for citizenship.

The new process will mean migrants will not become citizens until they have lived in this country for at least six years.

MPs Frank Field and Nicholas Soames, who co-chair the Commons group on balanced migration, said: "There are two litmus tests for immigration policy.

"First, it needs to tighten up immigration controls so that British unemployed people are given a fair crack at getting jobs. Second, it needs to control immigration so that the UK's population does not hit 70 million in 2028. This Bill passes neither of these tests."

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "If passing new immigration laws made our borders secure, we would have the safest borders in the world."