Amber Rudd told to ‘level with the nation’ about the Government’s post-Brexit immigration strategy amid an outcry over delays to new legislation
Ex-Cabinet Minister Priti Patel said the Government had to set out its plans for post-Brexit quotas on EU migrants as soon as possible
HOME Secretary Amber Rudd was last night told to “level with the nation” about her post-Brexit immigration plans amid an outcry over delays to new legislation.
Ex-Cabinet Minister Priti Patel hit out as her Tory colleague stunned Brexit backers by saying recent falls in EU migration had “taken away the urgency” to publish proposals.
Separately, the Migration Watch think tank said it was an “absurd” excuse.
In January Ms Rudd revealed the Government’s Immigration Bill may not be ready until December – and could be delayed beyond Brexit next March.
Brexit-backers fear the Government is dithering because it wants to use future immigration quotas as a bargaining chip with the EU in Brexit negotiations.
Ms Patel told The Sun: “The Government needs to level with the British people and be honest on what immigration will look like in post Brexit Britain.
“It’s in the public interest to have all everything in place so we know what immigration policy is going to look like on March 29 2019 and that means bringing legislation forward to have a very clear idea.”
Official figures last month revealed a fall of 75,000 in net annual migration of EU nationals – to 90,000.
It meant the difference between the number of people coming to live in Britain and those going home was the lowest since 2012.
But Migration Watch said an Immigration Bill had to be brought forward as soon as possible to help the Government begin work at the border – in the case of a No Deal.
Alp Mehmet, Migration Watch vice-chair, said: “The Home Secretary is reported as saying that the decline in immigration has taken the pressure off the introduction of the Immigration Bill.
“As an excuse for delaying the bill this is absurd.
“A year’s fall in immigration from the EU tells us nothing about what will happen once the uncertainty is resolved.”
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He added: “Numbers will very likely go up again with high youth unemployment and low pay in other parts of Europe being the driver.”
"My personal view is that there’s an awful lot to be done to get everything done in time as anyway. I believe the Home Secretary is wrong.”
The think tank has repeatedly claimed one million EU migrants and family members could come to the UK during the two-year post Brexit transition phase.