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Conservatives pledge to cut overall immigration Tory pledge to cut immigration triggers Labour 'fake news' row
(about 3 hours later)
The Conservatives have claimed immigration would ‘surge’ under a Labour government Labour dismisses Priti Patel’s claim immigration would soar under party as ‘make-believe’
The Conservatives have promised to reduce overall migration if they win the general election, the home secretary, Priti Patel, has said. Priti Patel, the home secretary, has said the Conservatives would reduce immigration as part of a new points-based system after Brexit in a move designed to put pressure on Labour to clarify its policy.
Patel said levels of immigration would be lower but clearly dropped David Cameron’s failed target to cut net migration to the tens of thousands.
“We will reduce immigration overall while being more open and flexible to the highly skilled people we need, such as scientists and doctors,” she said. “This can only happen if people vote for a Conservative majority government so we can leave the EU with a deal.”“We will reduce immigration overall while being more open and flexible to the highly skilled people we need, such as scientists and doctors,” she said. “This can only happen if people vote for a Conservative majority government so we can leave the EU with a deal.”
She claimed immigration would “surge” if Jeremy Corbyn became prime minister, a claim the Labour said came from the “make-believe research department”. She claimed immigration would “surge” to 840,000 if Jeremy Corbyn became prime minister, but Labour said this claim was “fake news” and came from the “make-believe research department”.
The Tories said analysis of new research into Labour’s proposals for open borders suggested net migration could increase to 840,000 a year under Corbyn. Labour has not yet released its immigration policy but members voted at the party’s autumn conference to maintain and extend free movement.
They said the analysis, also described as “fake news” by Labour, was based on official figures and the government’s own methodology. The party is split over whether to embrace free movement or adopt a more controlled policy. In a Guardian interview on Wednesday, Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said shadow cabinet members should not upset Labour’s carefully crafted Brexit position during the election and that he would oppose any attempts to extend free movement as voted for in Brighton.
According to the party, the research shows extending free movement to the rest of the world would result in average net immigration to the UK of 840,000 a year over the next 10 years. “This is equivalent to the combined populations of Manchester and Newcastle moving to the UK every single year,” the party said. The Tories said analysis of research into the conference proposals suggested net migration could increase to 840,000 a year under Corbyn.
The Conservatives said the analysis was based on official figures and the government’s own methodology.
According to the party, the research shows extending free movement to the rest of the world would result in average net immigration to the UK of 840,000 a year over the next 10 years. “This is equivalent to the combined populations of Manchester and Newcastle moving to the UK every single year,” the Conservatives said.
“This means that levels of net migration would more than treble if Labour introduced their proposals for completely open borders.”“This means that levels of net migration would more than treble if Labour introduced their proposals for completely open borders.”
The Tories added the analysis was “deliberately cautious and is likely to provide a significant underestimate of net inflows from non-EEA countries under Labour’s plans”. The Tories added that the analysis was “deliberately cautious and is likely to provide a significant underestimate of net inflows from non-EEA countries under Labour’s plans”.
The party also said maintaining free movement with existing EEA members would result in average net immigration to the UK of 260,000 a year over the next decade. The party also said maintaining free movement with existing European Economic Area members would result in average net immigration of 260,000 a year over the next decade.
Patel said: “Under Corbyn’s Labour, immigration would surge and put huge strain on schools and our NHS. Jeremy Corbyn has no credible plan for how to deal with the consequences of his open borders policy. Patel said: “Under Corbyn’s Labour, immigration would surge and put huge strain on schools and our NHS. Jeremy Corbyn has no credible plan for how to deal with the consequences of his open borders policy.”
She added: “His plan to hold another two referendums next year – and all the chaos that will bring – will mean that his government will not have time to focus on the people’s priorities. Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said: “This is more fake news from the Conservative party’s make-believe research department.
“By contrast, the Conservatives will get Brexit done, end free movement and introduce an Australian-style points system so that we can control our borders and protect our public services.
Diane Abbott, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said: “This is more fake news from the Conservative party’s make-believe research department.
“Unlike the Tories, we won’t scapegoat migrants or deport our own Windrush-generation citizens.“Unlike the Tories, we won’t scapegoat migrants or deport our own Windrush-generation citizens.
“The damage done to our society has been through damaging Conservative cuts to our public services, not by EU nationals coming to work in them.”“The damage done to our society has been through damaging Conservative cuts to our public services, not by EU nationals coming to work in them.”