Capping the problem

Immigration issues were very prominent in the last general election - often seen as the elephant in the room that many politicians tip-toed around.

However, in the coalition agreement the need for a non-EU immigration cap was set out. The aim is to reduce the numbers coming in from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands, back to levels seen in the 1990s.

Cameron claims that a cap will finally put a cap on the heated issue of immigration in the public domain (excuse the pun!) The thinking is, the public will be appeased by action and thus, it will no longer pose a problem.

The number of bogus colleges with bogus students would also be curbed. Hence, a cap will reduce the number of people coming to the UK to work in the black economy.

However legitimate the plans may be, perhaps these comments are untimely. On a visit to India to strengthen economic ties, Cameron talks about a cap that would potentially prevent Indian doctors, nurses and engineers seeking employment in the UK. India's commerce minister, Anand Sharma has even gone as far as claiming it could have an adverse effect on trade relations.