We’ll slash migration to less than 100,000, vows minister

HOME Secretary Sajid Javid will today set out Britain’s post-Brexit “skills-based” immigration system.

Freedom of movement will come to an end in 2021 as all migrants will need permission before they come to Britain, Mr Javid will say.

Officials say “the system will be built around what people can contribute, rather than where they come from”.

There will be no cap on the number of highly-skilled migrants, such as doctors or engineers, who can move here. Skilled migrants will need a visa to work here.

Mr Javid said: “We are delivering on the clear instruction to get control over our borders and will bring in a new system that works in the interest of the British people.

“It will be a single, skills-based immigration system built around the talent and expertise people can bring, rather than where they come from – maximising the benefits of immigration and demonstrating the UK is open for business.”

Officials say they are following the recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee in September.

The committee said EU workers should be subject to the same visa rules as other migrants.

And it also recommended restricting access to lower-skilled workers while promoting greater numbers of higher-skilled workers.

The Home Secretary is said to be aiming to slash EU immigration by 80 per cent by 2025.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said they want to reduce immigration to “sustainable levels” similar to those in 1998, “when it was less than 100,000”.

Officials insist the new rules, due to be published today, will end freedom of movement and preferential treatment of EU citizens in December 2020 while still allowing businesses to access key labour markets.

But yesterday it was reported the target to reduce net migration to under 100,000 had not been included in the immigration White Paper. A Whitehall source said: “It’s not in there and it won’t be unless someone slips it in at the last minute.”

Mr Brokenshire, a former immigration minister, refused to be drawn on whether the 100,000 figure had been included.

He said: “We are committed to seeing net migration reduced to sustainable numbers.”