Theresa May’s target of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands is all but dead and buried, claim senior Tories
Officially No 10 are sticking by their goal that they will reduce net migration to the tens of thousands
THERESA MAY’s target of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands is all-but dead and buried – senior Tories claim.
Sources told the Sun that post-Brexit the Government believed voters are now content with idea Britain is going to be in “control” of its borders.
One Cabinet Minister said: “No one’s talking about it anymore.
“There’s no way 100,000 will be in the Immigration Bill – and I can’t see it being in the Manifesto when it comes to the next Election.”
The claims came as the British Hospitality Association became the latest business group to warn their members faced a recruitment crisis if the door is closed to EU migrants once Brexit completes in March 2019.
A study by KPMG for the BHA said EU migrants currently account for nearly a quarter of the three million hospitality workers – including 75 per cent of waiting staff, and 25 per cent of chefs.
The 100,000 vow was first made by David Cameron in the run-up to the 2010 General Election.
It was at the heart of the Brexit campaign.
But free movement from the EU has seen the numbers soar.
Official figures in February revealed net migration had fallen to the lowest level for over two years – 273,000. Some 164,000 came from outside the EU – the immigration flows the Government CAN control.
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Senior Tories point out that any future trade deals with countries such as India will rely on Theresa May sanctioning a big rise in visas – not least for students.
Brexit Secretary David Davis on Monday admitted immigration may go up as well as down post-Brexit.
Theresa May on Wednesday admitted migration was higher “than we would want” but refused to guarantee immigration would be significantly lower.
The Sun last October revealed Amber Rudd was allying with Chancellor Philip Hammond to insist a new visa system to control immigration and block unskilled EU labour should be delayed until 2024 to avoid hurting the economy.
A new Immigration Bill - setting out migration policy post Brexit - is due in the coming months.
A Home Office spokesman last night said: “There has been no change to the Government’s immigration policy.
“We want to see net migration fall to sustainable levels – the tens of thousands.
“The UK needs a fair and controlled immigration policy and that is exactly what this Government will deliver.”
Alp Mehmet, vice chair of Migration Watch, yesterday insisted he believed the PM would stick resolutely to the target – to focus minds in Whitehall.
He said: “People doubting the Prime Minister’s commitment to 100,000 had better tell the PM that.
"We believe a target is vital to focus the attention of the policymakers.”