Government's decision on skilled migrants unfair and illegal

12.00.00am GMT Tue 8th Apr 2008

Commenting on today's High Court ruling that the Government acted unlawfully in changing immigration rules for highly skilled workers who want to stay in the UK, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"Today's ruling makes it clear that the Government's decision to change the rules for highly skilled immigrants already working in this country was not only deeply unfair but also completely illegal.

"Ministers were warned about the dubious legality of their retrospective changes, but sadly it has taken legal proceedings by the migrants themselves to hammer home just how unjust these changes were.

"The Government must now recognise that you cannot invite people to come here to build lives and careers under one scheme and then simply move the goalposts.

"Changes like these must never be made retrospectively. Ministers must not only accept this ruling, but also undertake never again to introduce changes in the rules without properly checking that they are fair, proportionate and legal."