PM urged to get tough on work permits for migrants after Brexit
developing those with a recognition of the importance of ensuring we can still welcome people from EU countries to work and to visit the UK in future, and ensuring we do that in the best and fairest way possible.”
But yesterday Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of MigrationWatch UK, said that the Government would need a system to enforce any new work permit system: “That could be done through employers as now, but there would be a need for significantly greater resources for the purpose. A crackdown on enforcement is, in any case, increasingly necessary.”
Ukip immigration spokesman John Bickley said: “The Conservatives must not think that they can economise on border control. They must stop the gradual co-option of private individuals, employers and landlords as unpaid border guards, a job they are being asked to do on pain of legal punishment. It is the job of the Government.
“It is essential the Government takes practical steps to strengthen our border control regime ready for the new post-Brexit existence.
“Ukip has long been calling for the recruitment of 4,000 new Border Agency staff and the Government needs to get on with it.
“Failure to do so would clearly show it has no intention of taking the referendum result seriously.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We’re committed to ensuring that Border Force and Immigration Enforcement have the resources they need.
“They should be judged on results, not staff numbers, with recent successes speaking for themselves.
“These include tackling major people-smuggling operations and stopping tens of thousands of illegal attempts to enter the country. The UK already has some of the most secure borders in the world with our expert officers using some of the most advanced border security technology to check more than 100 million passengers travelling to the UK.
“It is now harder than ever before for those with no right to be here to remain in the UK.
“Whether it is working, renting a property, opening a bank account or driving a car, we can now take tougher action on those who flout the law.”