General election: Tories outline migration rules as Labour shelve free movement plans
The Tories promise to reduce the number of unskilled migrants coming into the country and the benefits they are able to claim.
The Conservatives have pledged to cut immigration “overall”, with the “vast majority” of migrants to be required to have a job offer to come to the UK – regardless of where they are from.
High-skilled scientists and those who want to start a business will be among a small number of exceptions.
Access to benefits will be equalised between EU nationals and those from elsewhere, meaning a typical wait of five years for non-UK citizens, and benefits will no longer be sent abroad to support children outside the UK.
Ministers have already made clear they are finally abandoning the party’s long-standing commitment to get net migration down below 100,000 a year – a target they have never met.
The party said the new measures would save around £800m a year by 2024-2025.
Announcing the plans, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “One of the benefits of Brexit is that we get to take back control and make our system fairer. A majority Conservative government will ensure that people who come to our great country from anywhere in the world will contribute on day one.”
She added: “Immigration will finally be subject to democratic control, allowing us to get overall numbers down.”
A new immigration system that works for UK economy is as important as a new economic relationship with our biggest trading partner ??. Business & government need to work together to ensure training of ?? workers & an #openandcontrolled immigration system to help the economy grow. https://t.co/fblTdIIUod
— Matthew Fell (@cbimatt) November 16, 2019
The announcement by Ms Patel came following a debate within Labour as to its own immigration policy, with some senior figures in favour of freedom of movement and others wanting to curb it.
But following six hours of talks in London on Saturday, Jeremy Corbyn said there was “unanimous agreement” between his shadow cabinet and key union backers on the party manifesto.
Labour party chairman Ian Lavery told Sky News that discussions were “very amicable” with “very little disagreement at all”.
Labour shelves conference resolution to maintain free movement in manifesto.
Great scoop by @Gabriel_Pogrund
Labour not officially confirming but @RaynerSkyNews
and I have 2 sources saying this is right… https://t.co/Fi462uMTUo— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) November 16, 2019
Labour would not comment on reports about the contents of the manifesto, but Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and political correspondent Tom Rayner have been told by sources that Labour have shelved their conference resolution to maintain free movement and will instead renegotiate migration policy with the EU if Britain votes to leave in a second referendum.
Mr Corbyn described the Labour manifesto – expected to be launched on Thursday – as a “transformative document that will change the lives of the people of this country for the better”.
Sky Views: As we await manifestos, voters are heading to the polls truly in the dark
Among the policies set to be included are free dental checks for everyone in England, with the party having announced plans to roll back the band one fees introduced in 1951 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has said that every Tory candidate standing in the general election has agreed to back his Brexit deal in the next parliament.
The prime minister has been repeatedly frustrated in the Commons in trying to get his agreement approved, but said people can be “100%” certain it will get through if they vote for a Conservative majority on 12 December.
He told The Sunday Telegraph that all 635 party candidates were committed to the deal he has struck with Brussels and promised that his government would “unblock” parliament and deliver Brexit.
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Mr Johnson needs 326 Tory candidates to be elected next month to secure a majority, which he said was the only way voters could be sure that the 2016 referendum result would be delivered.
The prime minister added: “I am offering a pact with the people: if you vote Conservative you can be 100% sure a majority Conservative government will unblock parliament and get Brexit done.”
Last month, Mr Johnson – who is facing fresh claims about the extent of his controversial relationship with US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri – saw his Withdrawal Agreement Bill approved in principle by MPs.
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They voted for it by 329 votes to 299, but joy for the prime minister was short-lived as parliament then rejected the speedy timetable he had set out by 322 votes to 308.
The second vote effectively put paid to his promise to take the UK out of the EU by Halloween – “no ifs, no buts”.
He had also declared that he would “rather be dead in a ditch” than ask Brussels for an extension, but ended up doing just that and had the Brexit date pushed back to 31 January.
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