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Immigration: May rejects points-based system for EU nationals Immigration: May rejects points-based system for EU nationals
(about 3 hours later)
Theresa May has rejected a points-based system for controlling EU migration, one of the key promises of Leave campaigners during the referendum.Theresa May has rejected a points-based system for controlling EU migration, one of the key promises of Leave campaigners during the referendum.
Speaking in China, the PM acknowledged people had voted for more control on the numbers of people moving to the UK. Speaking in China, the PM said people backed Brexit because they wanted "an element of control" over EU migration.
But she questioned whether a point-based model would work and Number 10 later said it was "not an option". But she said a points-based model would not allow the government to control who was coming from elsewhere in Europe.
Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage said many people had voted Leave for the policy, backed by Boris Johnson among others.Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage said many people had voted Leave for the policy, backed by Boris Johnson among others.
Mrs May is attending the G20 summit of world leaders in Hangzhou, her first international summit as prime minister.Mrs May is attending the G20 summit of world leaders in Hangzhou, her first international summit as prime minister.
Although Mrs May supported remaining in the EU, she has said that the Brexit vote must be respected and suggested that curbs on the current free movement of EU citizens into the UK would be a red line in future negotiations with the EU.Although Mrs May supported remaining in the EU, she has said that the Brexit vote must be respected and suggested that curbs on the current free movement of EU citizens into the UK would be a red line in future negotiations with the EU.
But she told journalists in China that exercising greater control did not necessarily mean an Australian-style points system for deciding the number of skilled and unskilled workers who could come into the UK every year from the EU and beyond - with numbers to be determined by MPs. But speaking to journalists in China she dismissed Vote Leave's proposal of an Australian-style points system for deciding the number of skilled and unskilled workers who could come into the UK every year from the EU and beyond - with numbers to be determined by MPs.
Rather than giving the government control, such a system would allow anybody into the UK if they met the criteria, she said, adding that curbs on student visas had been a more effective measure to reduce immigration.
'Vote for control''Vote for control'
Asked whether she was concerned this was too blunt an instrument, she replied: "One of the issues is whether or not points-based systems do work. A lot of people talk about a points-based system as always being the answer in immigration. Her spokesman said: "The precise way in which the government will control the movement of EU nationals to Britain after Brexit is yet to be determined. However, as the PM has said many times in the past, a points-based system will not work and is not an option."
"There is no single silver bullet that is the answer in terms of dealing with immigration. You have to look across the board. On Sunday Mrs May suggested a points-based model was not a "silver bullet", adding: "You have to look at the whole range of issues, not just how you bring control through the rules you have for people coming in, but also making sure you are rooting out abuse in the system and dealing with people if they are discovered here illegally."
"You have to look at the whole range of issues, not just how you bring control through the rules you have for people coming in, but also making sure you are rooting out abuse in the system and dealing with people if they are discovered here illegally."
Her spokesman went further, saying: "The precise way in which the government will control the movement of EU nationals to Britain after Brexit is yet to be determined. However, as the PM has said many times in the past, a points-based system will not work and is not an option."
Mrs May also indicated that EU citizens may continue to have preferential rights to live and work in the UK after Brexit.Mrs May also indicated that EU citizens may continue to have preferential rights to live and work in the UK after Brexit.
She said people "wanted to see an ability to be able to control the movement of people from the European Union. And obviously that's what I say, not free movement as it has been in the past".She said people "wanted to see an ability to be able to control the movement of people from the European Union. And obviously that's what I say, not free movement as it has been in the past".
During a series of interviews, Mrs May also declined to guarantee the UK would use money saved by leaving the EU to spend another £100m a week on the NHS or cut VAT on energy bills.During a series of interviews, Mrs May also declined to guarantee the UK would use money saved by leaving the EU to spend another £100m a week on the NHS or cut VAT on energy bills.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editorBy Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
The now not so new prime minister has always promised to respect the referendum result, again and again vowing that Brexit means Brexit.The now not so new prime minister has always promised to respect the referendum result, again and again vowing that Brexit means Brexit.
However, that might not entail the introduction of a points-based system to control immigration - the central proposal made by the victorious Vote Leave campaign during the referendum.However, that might not entail the introduction of a points-based system to control immigration - the central proposal made by the victorious Vote Leave campaign during the referendum.
The prime minister vowed the government will deliver controls on the numbers of people coming to the UK from around the EU.The prime minister vowed the government will deliver controls on the numbers of people coming to the UK from around the EU.
But Theresa May said one of the issues is whether or not points-based systems do work, suggesting that despite Vote Leave's repeated promises, it might not be the answer.But Theresa May said one of the issues is whether or not points-based systems do work, suggesting that despite Vote Leave's repeated promises, it might not be the answer.
This puts the prime minister not just at odds with several of her cabinet ministers who argued for such a system during the campaign but potentially with some of the many millions of voters, in part persuaded to vote to leave because of that commitment.This puts the prime minister not just at odds with several of her cabinet ministers who argued for such a system during the campaign but potentially with some of the many millions of voters, in part persuaded to vote to leave because of that commitment.
As Theresa May has found at the G20 meeting, there are demands abroad as well as at home for more clarity on the government's plans. But this is the first sign that one of the referendum's winning side's promises may not be kept.As Theresa May has found at the G20 meeting, there are demands abroad as well as at home for more clarity on the government's plans. But this is the first sign that one of the referendum's winning side's promises may not be kept.
Immigration points-based systems comparedImmigration points-based systems compared
Would a points-based system work for the UK?Would a points-based system work for the UK?
Mr Farage said he was "worried" by Mrs May's comments.Mr Farage said he was "worried" by Mrs May's comments.
"The people were clear in wanting a points-based immigration system which is why so many went out and voted to leave the European Union," he said."The people were clear in wanting a points-based immigration system which is why so many went out and voted to leave the European Union," he said.
"Any watering down from that will lead to real anger.""Any watering down from that will lead to real anger."
Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who chairs Vote Leave Watch, which was set up by Remain campaigners after the referendum, said immigration was higher in Australia, where a points-based system was in use. Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who chairs Vote Leave Watch, which was set up by Remain campaigners after the referendum, said that, proportionally, immigration was higher in Australia, where a points-based system was in use.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister could "square the circle" of getting the UK continued access of the single market but also ending "free movement as we know it", for example by only allowing immigration within the EU in respect of people who have a job offer.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister could "square the circle" of getting the UK continued access of the single market but also ending "free movement as we know it", for example by only allowing immigration within the EU in respect of people who have a job offer.
Mrs May has faced pressure to sketch out a vision of what Brexit will mean for the UK's relations with key partners and major inward investors, such as the US and Japan.Mrs May has faced pressure to sketch out a vision of what Brexit will mean for the UK's relations with key partners and major inward investors, such as the US and Japan.
Having held talks with US President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, she will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping on Monday among other engagements before heading home. Having held talks with US President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, she is meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping on Monday among other engagements before heading home.
In a briefing released to journalists on Sunday, the Japanese government expressed concern about the impact of the UK leaving the EU on its firms' tariff-free access to the single market and their ability to recruit highly-skilled workers for its UK plants.In a briefing released to journalists on Sunday, the Japanese government expressed concern about the impact of the UK leaving the EU on its firms' tariff-free access to the single market and their ability to recruit highly-skilled workers for its UK plants.
The country's ambassador to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka, told Today it was hard to imagine Japanese companies pulling out entirely from the UK, but said "all options" would be open to businesses if export conditions worsened as a result of Brexit.The country's ambassador to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka, told Today it was hard to imagine Japanese companies pulling out entirely from the UK, but said "all options" would be open to businesses if export conditions worsened as a result of Brexit.
Brexit Secretary David Davis will make a statement to MPs later about progress made towards leaving the EU.Brexit Secretary David Davis will make a statement to MPs later about progress made towards leaving the EU.
The Commons will also debate a public petition calling for a re-run of the EU referendum which has attracted more than four million signatures.The Commons will also debate a public petition calling for a re-run of the EU referendum which has attracted more than four million signatures.
A poll for BBC Radio 5Live, conducted by the polling firm ComRes, suggests 62% of the 1,032 British adults canvassed say they are positive about Britain's future post-Brexit.A poll for BBC Radio 5Live, conducted by the polling firm ComRes, suggests 62% of the 1,032 British adults canvassed say they are positive about Britain's future post-Brexit.
On the other hand, 26% of those spoken to have considered leaving the UK and moving elsewhere - including 43% of 18-34 year olds.On the other hand, 26% of those spoken to have considered leaving the UK and moving elsewhere - including 43% of 18-34 year olds.