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| Migration Watch UK claim that leaving EU would cut net migration by 100,000 a year dismissed as 'disingenuous' | Migration Watch UK claim that leaving EU would cut net migration by 100,000 a year dismissed as 'disingenuous' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A pressure group has claimed leaving the European Union could reduce net migration to the UK by 100,000 a year. | A pressure group has claimed leaving the European Union could reduce net migration to the UK by 100,000 a year. |
| Migration Watch UK claimed its research gave a realistic forecast of post-“Brexit” immigration but pro-EU campaigners slammed the report as a “disingenuous” take on “fudged facts”. | Migration Watch UK claimed its research gave a realistic forecast of post-“Brexit” immigration but pro-EU campaigners slammed the report as a “disingenuous” take on “fudged facts”. |
| Its analysis estimated that expected changes including tighter restrictions on people coming to the UK for work could see net migration from the bloc - the difference between the numbers of people arriving and leaving - fall from its current level of 180,000 a year to around 65,000. | Its analysis estimated that expected changes including tighter restrictions on people coming to the UK for work could see net migration from the bloc - the difference between the numbers of people arriving and leaving - fall from its current level of 180,000 a year to around 65,000. |
| Lord Green of Deddington, the chairman of Migration Watch UK, said “alternative immigration regimes” should be examined. | Lord Green of Deddington, the chairman of Migration Watch UK, said “alternative immigration regimes” should be examined. |
| “Under the current arrangements all the signs are that EU migration to Britain will continue at a substantial rate for the foreseeable future; indeed, immigrants tend to generate further migration as their friends and relatives join them in their new countries,” he added. | “Under the current arrangements all the signs are that EU migration to Britain will continue at a substantial rate for the foreseeable future; indeed, immigrants tend to generate further migration as their friends and relatives join them in their new countries,” he added. |
| “Work permits for EU citizens would substantially reduce net migration and its resultant pressure on our population and public services.” | “Work permits for EU citizens would substantially reduce net migration and its resultant pressure on our population and public services.” |
| His group’s report suggested the key change if Britain votes to leave the union should be the introduction of permits which would only allow in EU workers in higher-skilled occupations, in a similar scheme to that currently governing arrivals from outside Europe. | His group’s report suggested the key change if Britain votes to leave the union should be the introduction of permits which would only allow in EU workers in higher-skilled occupations, in a similar scheme to that currently governing arrivals from outside Europe. |
| The 16-page paper said that on average, only around 20 per cent of EU migrants who came to Britain between 2004 and 2014 were doing higher skilled work. | The 16-page paper said that on average, only around 20 per cent of EU migrants who came to Britain between 2004 and 2014 were doing higher skilled work. |
| Claiming the argument that a Brexit would not affect migration relied on remaining in the European Economic Area (EEA), Migration Watch UK argued the country could exit both unions in favour of a “new settlement”. | |
| The authors concluded that there would be no need for restrictions on EU students or tourists, and that “self-sufficient” migrants would also be free to live in Britain. | The authors concluded that there would be no need for restrictions on EU students or tourists, and that “self-sufficient” migrants would also be free to live in Britain. |
| European family members would also be allowed to join British citizens in the UK, as would relatives of “skilled” EU workers. | European family members would also be allowed to join British citizens in the UK, as would relatives of “skilled” EU workers. |
| Migration Watch UK admitted that its prediction of future EU net migration of 65,000 should not be taken as a “precise estimate” but was “intended to illustrate the scale of the potential reduction under the policy outlined”. | Migration Watch UK admitted that its prediction of future EU net migration of 65,000 should not be taken as a “precise estimate” but was “intended to illustrate the scale of the potential reduction under the policy outlined”. |
| The Government's record on immigration has come under intense scrutiny in the run-up to next year’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, with overall net migration reaching a record annual level of 336,000 in the latest statistics. | The Government's record on immigration has come under intense scrutiny in the run-up to next year’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, with overall net migration reaching a record annual level of 336,000 in the latest statistics. |
| Lord Rose, chairman of “stay” campaigners Britain Stronger in Europe, previously said immigration ”isn't going to go away” if the country leaves. | Lord Rose, chairman of “stay” campaigners Britain Stronger in Europe, previously said immigration ”isn't going to go away” if the country leaves. |
| James McGrory, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed Migration Watch UK’s latest report as a “disingenuous…example of the Leave campaigns fudging the facts because they know they're losing the argument”. | James McGrory, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed Migration Watch UK’s latest report as a “disingenuous…example of the Leave campaigns fudging the facts because they know they're losing the argument”. |
| "Freedom of movement isn't on the ballot paper - and neither Leave campaign even proposes ending it,” he added. | "Freedom of movement isn't on the ballot paper - and neither Leave campaign even proposes ending it,” he added. |
| "Right now, Britain has the best of both worlds. We have an opt-out from the passport-free Schengen area, while still enjoying full access to the single market. | "Right now, Britain has the best of both worlds. We have an opt-out from the passport-free Schengen area, while still enjoying full access to the single market. |
| "The Leave campaigns haven't produced a shred of evidence to show how they could guarantee a deal that is at least as good if we left" | "The Leave campaigns haven't produced a shred of evidence to show how they could guarantee a deal that is at least as good if we left" |
| Migration Watch UK said its report does not advocate exiting from or remaining in the EU, but the group has become associated with an anti-immigration stance because of its numerous negative reports with headlines including “Immigration is driving Londoners out of their capital” and “Immigrants have cost the tax payer over £140 billion since 1995”. | Migration Watch UK said its report does not advocate exiting from or remaining in the EU, but the group has become associated with an anti-immigration stance because of its numerous negative reports with headlines including “Immigration is driving Londoners out of their capital” and “Immigrants have cost the tax payer over £140 billion since 1995”. |
| University College London researchers whose statistics were previously used to argue that “immigrants cost Britain £3,000 a year each” criticised Migration Watch UK’s “sloppy or simply wrong” conclusions based on “serious misinterpretation” of the original research. | University College London researchers whose statistics were previously used to argue that “immigrants cost Britain £3,000 a year each” criticised Migration Watch UK’s “sloppy or simply wrong” conclusions based on “serious misinterpretation” of the original research. |
| Danny Shaw, the BBC’s home affairs correspondent, was among those poking holes in its latest report today. | Danny Shaw, the BBC’s home affairs correspondent, was among those poking holes in its latest report today. |
| “No-one knows for sure what impact a British exit from the EU would have on immigration,” he pointed out. | “No-one knows for sure what impact a British exit from the EU would have on immigration,” he pointed out. |
| “But say, as Migration Watch advocates, that it did herald controls on the flow of low-skilled EU migrant labour, would that really work in reducing net migration? | “But say, as Migration Watch advocates, that it did herald controls on the flow of low-skilled EU migrant labour, would that really work in reducing net migration? |
| “Wouldn't there be an influx of migrants from the EU before the restrictions came into force?” | “Wouldn't there be an influx of migrants from the EU before the restrictions came into force?” |
| “Wouldn't businesses that currently rely on labourers, chambermaids and supermarket shelf-stackers from Europe demand that they be allowed to recruit them from elsewhere?” | “Wouldn't businesses that currently rely on labourers, chambermaids and supermarket shelf-stackers from Europe demand that they be allowed to recruit them from elsewhere?” |
| “And wouldn't the EU introduce work permits for British workers, thereby reducing emigration from the UK?” | “And wouldn't the EU introduce work permits for British workers, thereby reducing emigration from the UK?” |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |