This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30167160

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Immigration target unlikely to be met, says Theresa May Immigration target unlikely to be met, says Theresa May
(about 1 hour later)
The UK is "unlikely" to meet its target for reducing immigration, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.The UK is "unlikely" to meet its target for reducing immigration, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.
EU migration has "blown us off course" from cutting net migration to the tens of thousands before the general election, Mrs May told the Andrew Marr show.EU migration has "blown us off course" from cutting net migration to the tens of thousands before the general election, Mrs May told the Andrew Marr show.
Mrs May said Britain's strengthening economy had continued to attract people from across Europe.Mrs May said Britain's strengthening economy had continued to attract people from across Europe.
David Cameron said in May the target was "perfectly achievable".David Cameron said in May the target was "perfectly achievable".
Mrs May made her comments as the prime minister prepares to deliver a major speech on immigration later this week.Mrs May made her comments as the prime minister prepares to deliver a major speech on immigration later this week.
According to the Sunday Times, he is expected to call for a ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits such as tax credits.According to the Sunday Times, he is expected to call for a ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits such as tax credits.
The Conservatives are keen to launch a counter-attack after UKIP's victory in the Rochester by-election on Friday.The Conservatives are keen to launch a counter-attack after UKIP's victory in the Rochester by-election on Friday.
Immigration from the EU was a key issue during the campaign.Immigration from the EU was a key issue during the campaign.
AnalysisAnalysis
Ellie Price, BBC political reporter By Ellie Price, BBC political reporter
In 2011, the Prime Minister insisted the government would reduce net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, "no ifs, no buts". In 2011, the prime minister insisted the government would reduce net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, "no ifs, no buts".
But, just a fortnight ago the Home Secretary got flustered on BBC Radio 4 and said that was not a "promise" but "a comment" or "aim". But, just a fortnight ago the home secretary got flustered on BBC Radio 4 and said that was not a "promise" but "a comment" or "aim".
The latest comments by Theresa May were her clearest yet. Those targets are "unlikely" to be met, mainly because of migration from within the EU.The latest comments by Theresa May were her clearest yet. Those targets are "unlikely" to be met, mainly because of migration from within the EU.
Critics will see this as expectation management. The latest immigration figures will be published this week.Critics will see this as expectation management. The latest immigration figures will be published this week.
David Cameron faces the challenge of convincing Eurosceptic MPs in his own party, as well as voters flirting with UKIP, that it is in his gift to manage migration from the EU.David Cameron faces the challenge of convincing Eurosceptic MPs in his own party, as well as voters flirting with UKIP, that it is in his gift to manage migration from the EU.
Theresa May said the government had been controlling non-EU migration and was cracking down on abuse of the visa system.Theresa May said the government had been controlling non-EU migration and was cracking down on abuse of the visa system.
But she said reform was needed to the principle of free movement of people within the EU.But she said reform was needed to the principle of free movement of people within the EU.
"What we have been doing is taking the steps that we believe we can take already and looking to see if there is more that we can do," Mrs May said."What we have been doing is taking the steps that we believe we can take already and looking to see if there is more that we can do," Mrs May said.
"We have changed in relation to...people's access to benefits so people can't come here and start claiming benefits immediately.""We have changed in relation to...people's access to benefits so people can't come here and start claiming benefits immediately."
She added: "It is important to us, as we look ahead to negotiating a new relationship with the EU, that we put free movement as one of those key issues that we are going to negotiate on and we are going to deal with."She added: "It is important to us, as we look ahead to negotiating a new relationship with the EU, that we put free movement as one of those key issues that we are going to negotiate on and we are going to deal with."
But, when asked about the migration target, she admitted: "It is, of course, unlikely that we're going to reach the tens of thousands by the end of the parliament."But, when asked about the migration target, she admitted: "It is, of course, unlikely that we're going to reach the tens of thousands by the end of the parliament."
'Absolutely impossible''Absolutely impossible'
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves said the prime minister was wrong to concentrate on the number of migrants coming to Britain.Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves said the prime minister was wrong to concentrate on the number of migrants coming to Britain.
"He shouldn't make a promise that he knows that he won't be able to keep, and he did say 'No ifs, no buts'," she said."He shouldn't make a promise that he knows that he won't be able to keep, and he did say 'No ifs, no buts'," she said.
It was "absolutely impossible" to meet the migration target, she added.It was "absolutely impossible" to meet the migration target, she added.
Ms Reeves also acknowledged that the previous Labour government should not have "opened the doors as quickly" to EU migrants.Ms Reeves also acknowledged that the previous Labour government should not have "opened the doors as quickly" to EU migrants.
"We should have had longer transitional controls on the countries from eastern Europe entering the UK," she said."We should have had longer transitional controls on the countries from eastern Europe entering the UK," she said.
The prime minister set the migration target in a speech in 2011.The prime minister set the migration target in a speech in 2011.
"I believe...net migration to this country will be in the order of tens of thousands each year, not the hundreds of thousands every year that we have seen over the last decade," he said."I believe...net migration to this country will be in the order of tens of thousands each year, not the hundreds of thousands every year that we have seen over the last decade," he said.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people coming in to the UK and those leaving.Net migration is the difference between the number of people coming in to the UK and those leaving.
In May 2014, Mr Cameron said the target was "perfectly achievable" during evidence to a committee of senior MPs.In May 2014, Mr Cameron said the target was "perfectly achievable" during evidence to a committee of senior MPs.
But in recent months, ministers have been hinting at difficulties in meeting the promise.But in recent months, ministers have been hinting at difficulties in meeting the promise.