An MP has called for an end to partners being brought into the UK to stop the import of "third world poverty" into Bradford.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer made the comments after she returned from Pakistan on all-parliamentary fact-finding trip.

She fears there is a growing problem where people are brought into the country to marry and cannot speak English - which means they cannot fully participate in the culture or help the economy.

The Labour MP said: "Until we break transcontinental marriages we are importing third world poverty to the centre of Bradford. We cannot have people thinking they do not need to learn English otherwise they will never know their responsibilities or rights. We do not want people living in ghettos."

She believes if the behaviour did not stop, legislation may be necessary to ensure people do not enter the country until they can speak English.

She said: "If you have a son or daughter the way to prosperity is to get them married off to someone in Bradford or Oldham.

"Speaking English would have to apply to everyone. We need change. People are not economically active."

Mrs Cryer said people complained Pakistani children went to the worst schools and families had the worst jobs - which she partly attributed to some people's inability to speak the language. "It is time we started talking about this as the problem is very prominent in the northern cities," she said.

Conservative Shipley MP Philip Davies said he "wholeheartedly" supported Mrs Cryer's claims.

He said: "What we have to do is promote an integrated society as multiculturalism has caused damage. It is completely unacceptable for someone to have been living here for years and not be able to speak English.

"I can only speak from what I have seen but some women have been in the country for years and cannot speak the language."

But chairman of Ahmadiya Muslim Association Bary Malik said: "As far as arranged marriages are concerned they are at the lowest number for years.

"I do not know why Ann Cryer wants to create an atmosphere of fear. Now people coming from Pakistan are highly educated."

President of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire Rashid Awan accused Mrs Cryer of scaremongering. He said: "The statement is outdated because not many people are engaged with that sort of process. People are coming here and earning a living. It is scaremongering that does not help the situation. We could do without this sort of statement."

But Mr Awan praised Mrs Cryer's work to stop forced marriages, saying her dedication was remarkable.

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