Jump directly to the content
FREE FOR ALL

Fury after plans for all EU migrants to be able to come to Britain after Brexit as long as they have a job

ALL EU migrants would be free to come to Britain after Brexit - as long as they have a job.

Under new plans being floated by the Home Office, as long as an EU citizen had an offer of work they would be allowed in after we leave the EU.

 Plans for a new immigration system are currently being drawn up by the Home Office
2
Plans for a new immigration system are currently being drawn up by the Home OfficeCredit: PA:Press Association

It could mean they would face removal if they don't find work, but there are no plans in place for a cap on numbers arriving.

That contradicts previous leaked Home Office papers which revealed the UK plans to cap the number of low-skilled EU migrants - confirming an end to free movement after Brexit.

Those plans also said that bosses may also be forced to recruit British workers first before looking overseas.

And over the summer it was reported that a system of permits would come into force after we leave the bloc - to limit the number of working migrants here.

Michael Fallon slams Tony Blair for calling for​ ​immigration controls YEARS too late and still trying to stop Brexit

The Home Secretary now says she wants to keep immigration rules as simple as possible after we quit the bloc, the Daily Mail reported.

She wants to make sure there are no labour shortages and businesses don't lose out from our exit.

But the plans were met with fury from leave campaigners who want to see meaningful strides towards reducing our net migration targets.

Ukip's migration spokesman John Bickley, said that the British people "expect numbers to be cut."

He added: "There is a big difference between high-skilled and low-skilled. Just because a fast food chain recruits abroad should not give their employees a bye when it comes to migration.

"We already have a higher EU citizens unemployment rate at 6% than we do the national average of 4.5%, how can this be rational?"

And Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, told The Sun: "The outcome of allowing into Britain any EU citizen who had a job would mean no control whatsoever over the numbers.

"It amounts to throwing in the towel on immigration control and giving carte blanche to employers to bring in any number of low-paid workers regardless of their impact on the lives of hard-working people.

"This is exactly what many millions voted against in the referendum.

"Only by extending the existing work permit system to the EU and confining it to highly skilled jobs can we get the numbers down, probably by 100,000 a year."

The plans will also cast doubt on whether ministers will be able to achieve their aims of cutting it to below the tens of thousands as planned.

 Amber Rudd wants to make sure businesses aren't hurt by our EU exit
2
Amber Rudd wants to make sure businesses aren't hurt by our EU exitCredit: Rex Features

The number of EU citizens leaving Britain has already hit a six-year high as net migration continues to fall following our vote to leave.

Theresa May has said that it was "wrong" to suggest that freedom of movement would continue as it is now after March 2019 - but no more details are known about what our new system could look like.

The proposals - part of a whole new immigration process being drawn up - will be published within weeks.

They have yet to be approved by No10 or the cabinet.

Plan to register EU citizens after Brexit could be illegal, MEPs say

BRITAIN's plans to register all EU citizens after we leave the EU have been thrown into doubt after MEPs warned it would be illegal.

A cross-party group has written to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd to warn her that the plan would be unacceptable to the European Parliament.

Ministers have admitted that after we leave the EU in 2019 we will push for a transition deal with the EU - which could see us remaining under their rules for up to two years.

But plans for a register won't fly with Brussels, the politicians claim.

The MEPs wrote: "Is the Home Office suggesting that only non-UK EU citizens needs to register? Article 26 of the freedom of movement directive makes it very clear that residency cards are for everyone, or no one.

"We find it extremely troubling for the home secretary of a member state currently complying with EU laws to make such a statement."

They also took aim at her plans to reject criminals from coming to the UK during any transition period - saying that would break EU rules roo.

The European Parliament has the power to veto any withdrawal deal that is reached - which would include a transition period.

Just 6.7 per cent of EU-born workers currently in the UK are unemployed - meaning that these plans would be unlikely to curb the numbers.

Micheal Gove said earlier this year he hoped that EU citizens would still be able to come to Britain "freely" after Brexit - but that they would NOT have the same access to work, the NHS or benefits.

The Leave campaigner insisted they would not have the same rights as they did before.

 

Topics