Immigration reforms ‘very unlikely’ to be put to Commons before Brexit vote
Home Secretary accused of pushing MPS into ‘blindfold’ exit by failing to publish future policy
THE Government’s future immigration policy will not be published before MPS vote on the Brexit deal, Sajid Javid has indicated.
The Home Secretary told the Commons that the reforms would amount to the “biggest change in 45 years” in immigration rules, but could not confirm when they would be shared with the public.
It prompted fresh accusations from those who oppose Mrs May’s deal that Parliament will be asked to agree to a so-called “blindfolded Brexit” when it votes on Dec 11.
Mr Javid, speaking at Home Office questions, said the Government’s immigration White Paper would be announced “soon”, telling MPS the UK would move to a more “skills-based system”.
The immigration White Paper was originally supposed to be published in late 2017, but a series of rows in Cabinet over what should be in it have led to successive delays.
Theresa May wants a crackdown on low-wage and low-skilled workers, but several ministers have warned that employers will not be able to fill vacancies in healthcare, agriculture and other sectors that rely on migrant labour.
Mr Javid had previously said the White Paper would be published in December, but he was reluctant even to go that far when he faced questions in the House, leading to speculation that there could be yet more delays.
Mr Javid said: “All I can say at this moment is that the White Paper will be published soon.
“I wish I could say more than that. It is worth keeping in mind that this is the biggest change in our immigration system in four decades, so it’s important that we take our time and we get it right.”
He added: “We’ve already set out the principles of what a post-brexit immigration system will look like.
“For example, there will be no freedom of movement – there will be a skills-based system.”
Earlier, Mr Javid had told Today on BBC Radio 4: “It’s unlikely, actually very unlikely, to be published before the vote. It will be published soon.”
Afzal Khan, the shadow immigration minister, hit out at the lack of detail published by the Government in the run-up to the Commons vote on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal. He said: “In a week’s time MPS will be asked to decide potentially the most important vote of our country’s future. Are we to do so without any idea of what our post-brexit immigration system will be?” Labour MP Bridget Phillipson, of Houghton and Sunderland South, told Mr Javid he was pushing MPS into a “blindfolded Brexit”.
Mr Javid responded by insisting the Brexit deal was the “right deal for the country”, and dismissed reports that the vote will be pulled.
He said: “I don’t think there is any chance of pulling the vote... I just don’t see that happening.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister later said that the vote would go ahead.
Mr Javid tried to get on the front foot by announcing that Singapore and South Korea will be added to the list of countries whose travellers will be able to use epassport gates to enter the UK from summer 2019. Epassport gates, which allow passengers to get through British airports more quickly than having them checked by a border guard, are currently available only to British and EU nationals.
In the Budget the Chancellor said passengers from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore would be able to use epassport gates.