500,000 MIGRANTS HEADING TO BRITAIN
Thousands of EU workers to rush in before Brexit
BRITAIN faces an influx of 500,000 East European migrants because of Brexit.
They are predicted to flood into the UK over the next two years before our borders are closed.
The stark warning comes from former Immigration minister Phil Woolas who grappled with the problem during Gordon Brown’s premiership. Mr Woolas, 56, says: “Every time the UK Government announces a cap on immigration, thousands rush in before the deadline.
“Would-be immigrants see that the door is about to slam. So they bring forward their plans and a last-minute rush heads for the UK.
“In the Home Office, they call it the fire sale.”
Mr Woolas, former Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, added: “I faced the same problem in 2008 when t he l ast Labour Government wanted to strengthen the points-based system – yes, we’ve had such a law since then. The Brexiteers didn’t invent it.
“I announced in Parliament that the numbers of non-EU unskilled workers would be restricted. What happened was that more unskilled workers applied for visas than we’d ever known. The same will happen now.” Negotiations with the EU about
Brexit are scheduled to go on for two years, although it could take longer.
And until the process is finished, EU citizens will still enjoy unlimited free access to the UK.
After the referendum result was announced on Friday there was a 100 per cent surge in Google searches for Irish passports, mostly from people in Northern Ireland.
Highest
Irish passport holders will be able to work anywhere in the EU after Brexit because the Republic is still an EU member. Net migration to the UK – the number of people who came here after subtracting the number who left – rose to 333,000 last year. That was the second highest figure on record. And 184,000 came from the EU. Brexit leader Boris Johnson said during the campaign the only way to bring the numbers down is to leave the EU. But astonishingly, a leading Tory Leave campaigner has claimed that free immigration from the EU into the UK could continue. Daniel Hannan, a Member of the European Parliament, told BBC’s Newsnight: “Frankly, if people watching think that they have voted and there is now going to be zero immigration from the EU, they are going to be disappointed.” Mr Hannan, 44, said the UK would have to accept the free movement of people to remain in the European common market. The Conservative MEP defended the campaign to
leave the EU, which focused heavily on migration issues. He said Leave had been honest about the implications for immigration from the start.
He said that it was up to future governments to decide if immigration should be limited.
Meanwhile, Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart urged the French government to immediately begin renegotiations which could see the refugee camp move to England. Currently, British border police and officials to operate in the French port.
But it is feared that if the border is moved, the camps which house hundreds of migrants waiting to be processed by authorities could start appearing in England.
In another startling development, South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom emerged as one of the favourites to become the next Prime Minister. Her level-headed performances during TV debates have led to a groundswell of support from Tory backbenchers who are not keen on Boris Johnson.
Healing
Mr Johnson, 52, is clear favourite after the resignation of David Cameron on Friday.
But one backbencher told the Sunday People: “There is a feeling that although Boris had a good campaign and is favourite he is not yet ready. It’s a long way from a done deal.
“And however popular Boris is out in the country there’s not as much support as you would think for him in here.”
Home Secretary Theresa May, 59, is another name in the frame.
But it is Mrs Leadsom, 53, who is developing the momentum needed to mount a successful challenge.
One source close to her said: “She has had a really good campaign and t hat’s s omething t hat’s been acknowledged across both sides of the party. There is a lot of work to do healing the wounds that have opened up. Andrea would be an ideal unity candidate.
“She might have been pro-Brexit but she did it in such a way that she didn’t make many enemies at all.”
Odds with online bookie Betfair last night were: Boris Johnson – 4/5, Theresa May – 5/ 2, Andrea Leadsom – 6/ 1, Michael Gove – 9/1.