New Bill won’t have plan to cut migrant numbers
THE Government’s new Immigration Bill will not contain a policy to bring down the number of migrants coming into Britain, a minister has revealed.
The revelation has come amid reports that the Bill will be delayed for a year because of Cabinet in-fighting over its contents.
The Daily Express has been told that the Bill is set to disappoint those who hoped it would include a strategy to bring down the number of immigrants arriving in Britain.
Crucial
The issue was seen as one of the key reasons people voted Leave in the EU referendum in 2016.
But despite the Government sticking to its pledge to bring net migration down below 100,000 a year, it is set to delay working out a new policy until after Brexit.
A minister has revealed that the Bill will be aimed at “taking back control” of immigration from the EU but will leave policy details for future legislation.
According to reports, the Bill is being held back by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who is under pressure from pro-Brexit colleagues to bring it forward.
Privately, it has been claimed there are fears that Ms Rudd, a leading Remainer in the referendum, is trying to undermine a “no deal” scenario to prevent the Government walking away from talks if the EU continues with its hard line.
The Bill is crucial because Britain cannot leave the EU without having the legislative framework to bring back control of immigration.
There are fears the Bill will not come before MPs till late this year or even early 2019, meaning it will not have time to become law before the Brexit transition period begins on March 29, 2019.
Richard Tice, co-chairman of Leave Means Leave, which is backed by more than 50 Tory MPs, said: “The Government must accelerate all its Brexit plans, not delay, and be fully prepared to walk away rather than accept a bad late deal.”
Campaigners raised fears over reports that Ms Rudd has said the pressure is off with immigration because of a small dip in figures.
Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “The Home Secretary is reported as saying that the decline in immigration has taken the pressure off the introduction of the Immigration Bill. As an excuse for delaying the Bill this is absurd. A year’s fall in immigration from the European Union tells us nothing about what will happen once the uncertainty is resolved.
“Numbers will very likely go up again, with high youth unemployment and low pay in other parts of Europe being the driver.”
Last night Downing Street tried to allay fears that there will be a delay.
Prepared