May: I’m not racist for being tough on immigration
THERESA MAY has denied suggestions that she is “racist” in her tough approach to immigration.
Anna Soubry, one of the three MPS who quit the Tories last week, accused the Prime Minister of having a “problem” with immigration.
Asked yesterday if this was the case, Mrs May emphatically said: “No.”
Speaking as she travelled to a summit between EU leaders and those of the Arab League in Sharm el-sheikh, Egypt, Mrs May said: “I have consistently said immigration has been good for this country [Britain].
“As home secretary I had responsibility for putting a policy in relation to immigration into place, and have been continuing that as prime minister.
“I think what many people felt in relation to the EU is that they wanted decisions, about who would come to the UK, to be taken by the UK government and not in Brussels.
“That is why it is important that we do bring an end to free movement. This enables us to move to an immigration policy that is based on skills, not on where somebody comes from.”
Last week, Ms Soubry, who resigned to join the new Independent Group, told the BBC: “The only reason why she will not agree to the single market is because of free movement of people.
“And I think what’s really worried
‘[People] wanted decisions about who would come to the UK to be taken by the UK government, not Brussels’
me about Theresa, and she has history in the Home Office that supports this, because I’m an old barrister, I look at the evidence, and I think she’s got a problem with immigration.
“I really, honestly do.”
In a separate interview with The Times, Ms Soubry said Mrs May is “absolutely delusional about the situation that she and the country is in”.
Asked how she felt about Ms Soubry’s accusation, Mrs May said: “I believe there is an important job to be done to deliver for the UK in relation to immigration. As we leave the EU, we are able to bring an end to free movement.”
She added: “It’s important that we as a country have welcomed people to come to the UK over the years, people who are both migrating to the UK for work purposes, but also crucially those refugees and asylum seekers. [We] will continue to do so.”
Her response comes as a senior Tory backbencher said the UK needs to be “more open” in order to attract the brightest talent.
Describing stories of Indian students choosing to go to Australia and New Zealand rather than the UK, Tom Tugendhat, who is chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said: “Instead of looking open, too often we have been closed.
“If we are going to play our part in the world, we need to change that.”
The two-day summit is intended to strengthen Arab-european ties.