Ed Miliband, leader of the British Labour Party and a possible future Prime Minister, emphasized in a speech last month how important it is for overseas workers and immigrants to learn English.
Mr Miliband said:
“We can only converse if we can speak the same language (…) we need to start with everyone in Britain knowing how to speak English. We should expect that of people that come here. We will work together as a nation far more effectively when we can always talk together.”
Mr Miliband said that English language teaching for newcomers to Britain should be given priority in the future.
In addition, schools and parents will be encouraged to share responsibility for helping foreign-born children to learn English.
Learning English is extremely important in the modern world, but it is especially important for people who want to live and work in the UK. The chances of finding a job are much better for people with a good knowledge of English. What’s more, it is easier to take advantage of health care and social services if you speak English well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/14/miliband-english-language-integration