Youre watching bbc news at 9 with me, Annita Mcveigh the headlines. Therell be no visas for low skilled workers as the government unveils plans for a points based immigration system. This basically redefines our immigration policy, so the brightest and the best, people with skills need to come to the uk. This policy is going to turn into a model, and yet it sends a wbr id wbr330 very clear message, that immigration is a bad thing. More heavy rain is expected in flooded communities in england and wales, adding to fears that flood defences might not withstand rising river levels. The first passengers who have tested negative for coronavirus have begun leaving a ship moored offjapan, after 1a days of quarantine. b
the truth is our Prime Ministers a real racist. The rapper dave takes a swipe at borisjohnson and the government, as he lands the big prize at the brit awards. And coming up in the sport liverpool suffer a rare defeat in the first leg of their Champions League tie against athletico madrid. Good morning, and welcome to the bbc news wbrid wbr930 at 9. Low skilled Migrant Workers seeking employment in the uk will not be able to get a visa under the governments new plans for a points based immigration system. Ministers say employers must move away from a reliance on cheap labour from europe and invest in technology. The scheme which comes
into force next january will apply equally to citizens from inside and outside the eu. Our home affairs correspondent, danny shaw, reports. The uks immigration system is changing. From next year, people who want to work in britain will be treated the same if they are from the eu or outside it. The government says top priority will go to those with the highest skills and the greatest talents. On a visit to Imperial College in london, home secretary priti patel mapped out the way ahead. She wants the brightest and best to work and study in the uk, at high tech laboratories like this, where they do groundbreaking research on carbon capture. But importantly now, this basically redefines our immigration policy so the brightest and best, people with skills need to come to the uk and we will no longer have the routes for cheap low Skilled Labour that has dominated
immigrationa and our Labour Market for far too long in this country. The new immigration system is about points, with people wanting to come here needing at least 70 to apply. 50 points will be awarded if you speak english and have a skilled job. 20 points come from a £25,000 salary or working in a sector where there is a labour shortage, but no entry to the uk for most people doing lower skilled work in restaurants, care homes or Food Processing plants. I think theres going to have to be a lot of exemptions, a lot of exceptions. I think this policy is going to turn into a muddle, and yet it sends a very clear message that immigration is a bad thing, and i think that is a toxic message to send. Lets concentrate on a practical system, a fair system, that can be made to work. Businesses which rely on lower skilled Migrant Workers are being told they will have to improve productivity,
invest in technology, and do more to retain their existing stuff. The government is clear that overall levels of migrations will be reduced. Danny shaw, bbc news. Lets speak now to our assistant Political Editor norman smith. How much control does this points system give the government over immigration . Critics are saying, look as we heard diane abbott there will be so many pmqs should bes it will be so many pmqs should bes it will rinder it meaningless. The shortance is we dont know. It is still in its infancy this points based system, it will have to evolve and it is a an old cliche but the devil is in detail. The overview is ita devil is in detail. The overview is it a double edged immigration system. For skilled workers, it a double edged immigration system. Forskilled workers, it loosens things up, it makes it easierfor loosens things up, it makes it easier for skilled workers to come
to the uk, so the salary floeshld has been reduced to £25,000, the skills qualification has been reduced from having to have a graduate type qualification to an e level typed qualification so it is easier, you would see an increase in the number of skilled worker, for unskilled worker, however, the drawbridge has been well and truly pulled up and that poses a major challenge for large sections of the british economy, particularly those reliant on low skilled eu labourers so we are reliant on low skilled eu labourers so we are talking the retail sector, the leisure sector, construction sector, the care sector, Food Processing sector, i mean vast amounts of the british economy have now got a major, major challenge ahead. They have to get ready for the new system by the end of the year, so time is very short, they have got to prepare for additional
bureaucracy, because they will have to sponsor people now, for work, it isa to sponsor people now, for work, it is a major ask for them, the response of the government is to say look, there are, they say, round eight million economically inactive british people, that is a pool of labour you can recruit from and train from. Labour you can recruit from and trainfrom. In labour you can recruit from and train from. In other words, you dont have to rely on eu workers you can use existing british workers, now that sounds fine in theory, but if you look at a sector like the ca re if you look at a sector like the care sector, they argue they have already got round 122,000 vacancies is and have not been able to fill them. Even with the existing eight million economically unactive british work earthquake in part that is because of low wages in the care sector but it is because the care sector but it is because the care sector has a particular image which doesnt necessarily make it a very attractive route for many people. That means for the care sector, they face, i think, that means for the care sector, they face, ithink, really that means for the care sector, they face, i think, really significant challenge now. 0k, norman, thank you very much. Let us get some reaction. Lets speak now to karendeep kaur, whos the senior immigration consultant at the law firm migrate consultant at the law firm migrate uk. Ill would say the skilled workers, they are fine, they are going to come into the uk, it is opened up for the skilled worker, it is the lower skills that will be impacted the most here. You know, they are going to be expected to come to the uk, without any point based system, however, there is the route for the mobility for the individuals we need to explore, the government is saying to explore, the government is saying to these employers. That route,
explain ma that route is you are talking about exploring. So this allows individual, it will be, it is not, there are certain contraries which are permitted to come to use the mobility, but it is being open to the whole of the eu as well, you need to be between the aged of 18 and 30, you have come to the uk and it is all about gaining that Work Experience in the uk. But, during those two years, you can be upskilled, your salary will increase and this can lead to the skilled worker route eventually down the road. So, those lower skilled workers can be used under the scheme, however the government is saying that any dependents of skilled workers can also fill those gaps in the lower skilled criteria. This scheme is due to come into force, this points
based system injanuary next year. The eu settlement scheme isjune next year. What is going to happen in that gap, to people who want to be in the uk, but who perhaps havent at the point of january, next year, got the points they need . Right, 0k, next year, got the points they need . Right, ok, so from the first of january, Free Movement ends so if they dont have the points and that i havent come to the uk before the 1st january they will be expected to obtain sponsorship in the uk, so employers needs to get their sponsor licenses in place this year, in order to employ anybody from the first january, any eu order to employ anybody from the firstjanuary, any eu worker, so that could be one person, they need to have a licence in place, if they dont meet the 70 points they require, that is going to be a problem for them. 0k, good to get your thoughtses on that. Flood hit communities are braced for more heavy rain as river levels continue to threaten to breach barriers. Hundreds of properties have been flooded and evacuated across england and wales after storm dennis. The Environment Agency says levels in the rivers wye and severn will remain high into the weekend. Lets go to monmouth in wales now and our correspondent tim muffett. Tim, talk to us about the water levels there and how the local community is coping and responding. Yes, good morning, yes, the river wye reached its highest level ever, at over seven metre, it is a bit below six this morning but the sheer volume of water coming below the wye bridge is such they have closed off the bridge, because they are fearful for its structure, in effect. Take a look a the top shot, you might be able to make out a caravan park, those people in that park were
evacuated as well for their safety, so evacuated as well for their safety, 03 evacuated as well for their safety, so a lot going on. Delighted to be joined by deputy chief constable from the police. You have nerve seen anything like this before. This is anything like this before. This is an unusual event, you know, in terms of the river levels we have here, you mentioned the speed of the river coming through, you know and the volume of water, so we are working hard, with mull agency approach, with ambulance, fire, monmouth council, with National Resources wales to make sure we are co ordinated response in relation to this. Have you managed to get some out from the caravan park, what state were they . . That was a planned event. We had good warnings of the weatherent vent so a lot was done prior, with the consent and cooperation of the people on the site, you know, so that was worked through with them. How do you think the community is bearing up. Fa nta stically the community is bearing up. Fantastically well, appreciative of the cooperation, we have had to
close the bridge, we need to have a Structural Assessment done in relation to the bridge and as you can see, people are very patient, understanding what you know the situation is, and working really ha rd situation is, and working really hard with us. Finally, looking ahead the forecast is not great, more rain is forecast, what is your message to people . Well, obviously, you know, Pay Attention to the road closures we have in place, they are there for a reason, you know, if you have any concern, a reason, you know, if you have any concern, there is lots of information on the website and our partners website the council. Anything you want is on there and you should be able to get anything you should be able to get anything you need in relation to any advice. Thank you. Appreciate you are busy and your time. So message there from the police, you know, be sensible really and things like this, you see the scale of the water and nearby Water Treatment plant was flooded. That meant that the supply of Drinking Water to the local area is particularly affected. Pee have been advised to stock up on bottled water if they can. Thank you tim. Thank you tim. Herefordshire is among the worst affected areas and our correspondent Nina Warhurst has been speaking to a localfarmer there. To explain where i am and anding. This rapeseed plant that will produce rapeseed oil, there are 100 acres of it on this farm, but look this way, round a third of the rapeseed plans at the moment is submerged in water, and that tra nslates submerged in water, and that translates to this farmer, tens of thousands of pounds, and it is no just here in herefordshire, it is in neighbouring shropshire, worcestershire, gloucestershire, all the way up to staffordshire, into wales, devastation like this across thousands and thousands of farms. And the National Farmers union alliance, who insure thousands of farms tell us insurance claims are heading upwards of £20 million, and they expect that number to climb
much higher. It make sensef they expect that number to climb much higher. It make sense f you think about the battering of storm ciara, the wild wind and rain and then came dennis, wet upon wet on wet. Let us talk to ali about the impact on his farm. Hundreds of ca kers impact on his farm. Hundreds of cakers sup merge, what does that mean for your crop . We have about 160 acres under water, most was in crop. The crop is drowning at the moment, if it hasnt already drowned. It is too soon to put a number on what that will mean financially . Absolutely. It has been a combination in rain starting in september so we are looking at another rain event. Storm ben disbrought a months worth of rain. We wont know until we can get down here, to repla nt we wont know until we can get down here, to replant and again we wont know until we get a combine harvester in august. It was a dry summer last year, towards the end of it, and follow that with extreme wet weather, what does that do to your soil and to bringing in the harvest . We had a tricky harvest getting in and the rain started early in the autumn which meant we struggled to get crops into the ground. That has been nationwide which is unusual. All the way through the breads be the kept of the uk. We have struggled to get crops in and we will struggle to get anything else in. How does it compare to other winters you have been through . Farming is in your blood, what does it look like at the moment . It is the worst. It is unprecedented. The river levels have, gauges are brokens because they have ever in seen the water this high. Dad has been here 50 years, it has never been here 50 years, it has never been as high as it has before. It is, its is phenomenal. It is humbling ina is, its is phenomenal. It is humbling in a way, we think we are clever in what we do and we are one 100 controlled by Mother Nature and these events seem to be getting more frequent. You have a new baby daughter, congratulations, it is your dream to pass this land on to her, how optimistic do you feel about this . Right at the moment . Not that optimistic, we are trying to
farm in the most sustainable way. We are wide rotation, i am trying to look after this farm so my daughter if she wants to can take over. I am still fairly young, i have a career in front of me and you have to be o mystic but this makes it difficult. Thank you for sharing with us. There isa human thank you for sharing with us. There is a human side to these floods, concerns about whether land has been in families for generation will be able to passed on. George eustice told the bbc earlier this week money will be made available for people recovering from flooding but not in all county, question round that, but also about a long term plan, what can we do to protect rural economies, when the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The headlines on bbc news. Therell be no visas for low skilled workers as the government unveils plans for a points based immigration system. More heavy rain is expected in flooded communities in england and wales,
adding to fears that flood defences might not withstand rising river levels. The first passengers who have tested negative for coronavirus have begun leaving a ship moored offjapan, after 1a days of quarantine. A spanish lesson for liverpool. They ta ke a spanish lesson for liverpool. They take a hit after they were beaten 10 take a hit after they were beaten 1 0 by Atletico Madrid. The second leg takes at anfield next month. Spurses are in action tonight. Jose mourinho will be without his first choice forward line. And tyson fury made his grand arrival at the mgm hotel in las vegas ahead of saturday nights title rematch with deontay wilder. Furry described it at the biggest fight in the last 50 years. Hundreds of passengers who have tested negative for coronavirus and are healthy with no symtoms of illness, have disembarked from the diamond princess cruise liner thats been quarantined in the japanese port of yokohama for more than two weeks. The vessel was carrying more than 3700 people when it was isolated in early february. 542 of those passengers have been infected the biggest cluster outside mainland china. The uk government is preparing to fly home around 70 british tourists, while four who have been infected, will be treated injapan. Simonjones reports. Finally released after weeks on a luxury cruise liner, in far from luxurious circumstances, due to an outbreak of coronavirus on board. Groups of passengers whove tested
negative allowed to leave. But its not good news for britains david and sally abel whod been documenting their ordeal. They have the virus. We are both positive. We are going to a hostel because there is not a hospital bed anywhere around, 0k . So were going to a hostel and, in four orfive days, we will be removed from the hostel and put into a hospital, where we will receive treatment. They have had their bags packed for over 24 hours, they thought they we re over 24 hours, they thought they were being taken, excuse me, they thought they were being taken yesterday but no one came. The fco, they are saying that people who are negative canjust they are saying that people who are negative can just disembark as of 7. 00am this morning, japanese time, and obviously they have been told to stay in their room, sol and obviously they have been told to stay in their room, so i think that is confirmation they are positive, but, one minute they are being told they will be taken in an ambulance, they will be taken in an ambulance,
the next they are going to be taken ona the next they are going to be taken on a coach. They are being messed about. These are two pensioner, i dont like to think of them like that, but they, it isjust, have been through so so much, i want someone to take care of them. The Foreign Office here in london has been facing some stinging criticism, not least from the abel family, that they have not been doing enough to help the british citizens stranded on board the cruise ship. 0fficials though insist they have been working to organise a Repatriation Flight but it is thought anyone returning to the uk is likely to