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Leave campaigners pledge 'fairer immigration' outside EU Dutch PM's warning over Brexit 'fairer immigration' claim
(about 2 hours later)
The UK could have a "fairer, more humane" immigration system that would work better for the economy if it left the EU, Leave campaigners say. A pledge to bring in a "fairer" points-based immigration system if the UK left the European Union has triggered a warning other countries would adopt the same approach towards British workers.
Tories Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Priti Patel, and Labour's Gisela Stuart are calling for a points-based system for all migrants coming to the UK. Vote Leave said ending EU citizens' automatic right to live in the UK would create a "more humane" system.
They say EU free movement rules have hit wages and strained public services. But Dutch PM Mark Rutte told the BBC it would trigger "an inevitable, unavoidable race to the bottom".
The Remain campaign said the proposal would "wreck" the UK economy and could drive up immigration. David Cameron said it would "crash" the economy and increase migration.
In other referendum news, the TUC published research claiming average UK wages would be £38 a week lower by 2030 outside the EU, as part of its push to encourage people to vote to stay in the EU on 23 June.
Britain currently has a points-based immigration system for people coming to work in the UK from outside the EU.Britain currently has a points-based immigration system for people coming to work in the UK from outside the EU.
It means entry to work is limited to people deemed to be of value to the UK economy, such as skilled workers in "shortage occupations" or wealthy entrepreneurs and investors. Migrants with sought-after skills gain more points towards their visa. This is often called an Australian-style system as that country introduced it first.It means entry to work is limited to people deemed to be of value to the UK economy, such as skilled workers in "shortage occupations" or wealthy entrepreneurs and investors. Migrants with sought-after skills gain more points towards their visa. This is often called an Australian-style system as that country introduced it first.
More migrants come to the UK to work through this route each year, from countries such as India, Pakistan and the United States, than arrive from the EU, although the numbers from EU countries have increased in recent years.More migrants come to the UK to work through this route each year, from countries such as India, Pakistan and the United States, than arrive from the EU, although the numbers from EU countries have increased in recent years.
Analysis by Mark Easton, BBC home editor
Extending points-based controls to all migrants could be seen as fairer - South African software designers would have the same chance of working in Britain as Spanish software designers.
It would also give government more control of who and how many immigrants can come to the UK.
The problem is in designing a system that is not completely bound up in the kind of red tape the Leave campaign complains about in Brussels.
A government-commissioned employment report recently urged ministers to simplify the existing system for bringing workers from abroad, complaining there are 13 relevant acts of Parliament including 10,000 pages of guidance relating to 1,400 categories of immigrants. It noted that employers must answer over 100 questions including the birth dates of applicants' dead parents.
The system also relies on an army of officials having a detailed understanding of the current needs of every area of UK industry to decide if a shortage exists. The warning from business is that bureaucrats in Whitehall will be rather less efficient and responsive to need than the market.
Points-based systems were introduced by countries looking to increase immigration and to woo the right people to become permanent residents.
Leave campaigners want the points system to be extended to cover EU migrants, who are currently free to come to the UK and take up jobs, including low-paid manual work - but it would be up to the government of the day to decide whether to adopt this policy.Leave campaigners want the points system to be extended to cover EU migrants, who are currently free to come to the UK and take up jobs, including low-paid manual work - but it would be up to the government of the day to decide whether to adopt this policy.
The Leave campaign says that if Britain votes to come out of the EU the government should do the following by 2020:The Leave campaign says that if Britain votes to come out of the EU the government should do the following by 2020:
EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK would not be affected as they will be given indefinite leave to remain, and neither will Irish citizens.EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK would not be affected as they will be given indefinite leave to remain, and neither will Irish citizens.
The 1972 European Communities Act could also be amended to make it easier to remove criminals and other people whose presence in the UK is "not conducive to the public good".The 1972 European Communities Act could also be amended to make it easier to remove criminals and other people whose presence in the UK is "not conducive to the public good".
In a joint statement, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart said their proposals would "create fairness between EU citizens and others" including those from Commonwealth countries..In a joint statement, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart said their proposals would "create fairness between EU citizens and others" including those from Commonwealth countries..
They added: "We think that this system will be fairer, more humane, and better for the economy."They added: "We think that this system will be fairer, more humane, and better for the economy."
"We will welcome new citizens who wish to contribute to our society, as so many immigrants have done. And we will be able to remove those who abuse our hospitality.""We will welcome new citizens who wish to contribute to our society, as so many immigrants have done. And we will be able to remove those who abuse our hospitality."
Analysis, BBC political editor Laura KuenssbergAnalysis, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg
On Wednesday, senior Outers will be on the road outlining how they claim they'd control immigration if we left the EU - by introducing a points system that would determine if people can come to live in Britain for every single wannabe immigrant. Campaigns have got two choices as the date of any vote nears - narrow the message more and more tightly down to one issue, one argument, one sound bite or slogan. The logic of that is clear - focus on your best bits and shout about them as loudly as you can.
The system is already in place for people who aren't part of the EU, but currently, the country has no way of limiting the total numbers of people who want to come here from around the continent. It would be an enormous change, and a system they believe would get wide public support. But there's a different way - keep adding to what might cringingly be called "the offer", in the hope that a slow reveal of ideas will gradually get voters on your side. Essentially, save the best until last.
The Remainers are bound, though, to warn again of the risks of leaving the EU. If we're out of the single market, so can leave behind the free movement of people, they'd argue the hit to the economy would be much more painful than any potential gains from controlling immigration. After the entirely predictable economic bludgeoning of the Vote Leave campaign by the other side, which has all the might of the government machine, it's now clear that rather than try to retaliate with all of their goodies, Outers were keeping some in the cupboard for this moment.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura
Britain Stronger In Europe, the official Remain campaign group, attacked Vote Leave's proposal, saying it "will not work". But Mr Rutte, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Council, said it would be "very bad news" if the UK adopted such an approach.
Executive director Will Straw said: "Vote Leave's proposal could put up immigration and it would wreck our economy, as it involves leaving Europe's single market." "It will immediately mean that we will get this race to the bottom, that it will move against the interests of the population," he said.
He said Australia, which has a points-based immigration system, has "twice as many migrants per head as the UK". Mr Rutte said it would be "impossible" for him not to implement a similar system towards UK residents.
Mr Cameron said this would "reduce opportunities for people to work in other countries".
He told BBC Radio Derby that Australia had more migration per head than the UK, so Vote Leave's proposal was "the wrong approach".
But UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has previously called for the UK to adopt an Australian-style system, said this was because Australia was "growing its country" and was able to choose migration numbers every year.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson accused Vote Leave of trying to turn the EU referendum into a vote on British immigration policy.Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson accused Vote Leave of trying to turn the EU referendum into a vote on British immigration policy.
But he said an EU exit "won't end immigration" and he cautioned that there were "no easy choices", saying losing access to the EU's single market would be bad for trade and against British workers' interests. He said an EU exit "won't end immigration" and he cautioned that there were "no easy choices", saying losing access to the EU's single market would be bad for trade and against British workers' interests.
Speaking on Radio 4's World at One, Mr Watson also accused Mr Gove and Mr Johnson of trying to turning the Leave campaign into an "alternative government in waiting" to undermine Mr Cameron.
Meanwhile, the TUC is warning average earnings in Britain would be lower by 2030 outside the EU - adjusting wages for smaller GDP growth.Meanwhile, the TUC is warning average earnings in Britain would be lower by 2030 outside the EU - adjusting wages for smaller GDP growth.
A study by the TUC also says employee rights and manufacturing jobs in particular would be hit.A study by the TUC also says employee rights and manufacturing jobs in particular would be hit.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "At a time of continuing hardship, Brexit would be a disaster for working people - for our wages, for our jobs and for our rights. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "At a time of continuing hardship, Brexit would be a disaster for working people - for our wages, for our jobs and for our rights."
"£38 a week may not be much for politicians like Boris Johnson, but for millions of workers, it's the difference between heating or eating, between struggling or saving, and between getting by or getting on."
Labour shadow business secretary Angela Eagle said Britain's membership of the EU was "good for businesses and good for working people too".
But Vote Leave's Ms Stuart said the EU had been "a disaster" for workers, saying unemployment levels across the eurozone were "in the double digits".But Vote Leave's Ms Stuart said the EU had been "a disaster" for workers, saying unemployment levels across the eurozone were "in the double digits".