Cameron links immigration to woeful welfare system

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that immigration and welfare dependency were “two sides of the same coin” and created “disjointed” neighbourhoods.Cameron, who branded multiculturalism a “failure” during a February speech in Munich, was to blame the previous Labour governments “woeful” record on welfare reform while laying out new plans for tighter immigration rules.“Migrants are filling gaps in the labour market left wide open by a welfare system that for years has paid British people not to work,” Cameron said. “So, immigration and welfare reform are two sides of the same coin, the leader said, adding, “Put simply, we will never control immigration properly unless we tackle welfare dependency.”“Thats where the blame lies -- at the door of our woeful welfare system, and the last government who comprehensively failed to reform it, Cameron claimed. Yvette Cooper, Labours shadow interior minister, hit back at the prime ministers claims.“Immigration needs strong, fair controls and open, sensible debate. Unfortunately, David Cameron isnt delivering that,” said Cooper.“He has made very big promises about the level of net migration he will achieve -- but he hasnt set out workable, transparent policies to deliver it,” she said.“As long as his big promises hide fudged policies and figures he is not being straight with people, and he is guilty of the very same failings he accuses others of in this speech,” she added.Between 1997 and 2009, net immigration in Britain reached 2.2 million, according to the Conservative party leader, a figure he called “the largest influx of people Britain has ever had”. Under new proposals, only students with a “proper grasp” of English would be eligible to study degree-level courses.