Focus on migration

Theresa May has pledged to reduce net migration to tens of thousands and said that Brexit will enable Britain to control its borders.

The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday hat the policy will be in the Conservative manifesto after a week in which May and ministers repeatedly refused to commit to the target.

The policy is in stark contrast to that of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, who has previously indicated that he favours uncontrolled migration.

The policy is likely to be part of May’s bid to appeal to Labour voters in the North as she seeks to secure a significant majority.

The pledge suggests May wants to focus her campaign on areas she believes Labour cannot match. Repeated polls have shown that the public believes Corbyn i s weak on migration.

May told Sky News: “We have been very clear, as I was as home secretary for six years, that it is important that we have net migration that i s in sustainable numbers. We believe sustainable numbers are the tens of thousands.” In other developments yesterday: 13 Labour MPs said they will not stand for re- election.

Nigel Farage, the ex- Ukip leader, said he will not stand and said he believes the Tories are on course for a landslide.

The Prime Minister’s campaign team warned that polls suggesting she is on course for a landslide election victory could be hugely exaggerated.