Manifesto migrants guarantee ruled out

AMBER RUDD has refused to guarantee that the Tory commitment to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands” will feature in the party’s election manifesto.

The Home Secretary said she wanted to “continue to bring immigration down” and wanted to “nudge” firms into making more of an effort to recruit British workers. But she stopped short of saying the controversial net migration target – which has never been met by the Conservatives since it was introduced – would be repeated.

Prime Minister Theresa May, Ms Rudd’s predecessor at the Home Office, has insisted she wants to see “sustainable” net migration, which she has defined as “in the tens of thousands”.

Ms Rudd said the election manifesto would not be “identical” to the 2015 document, which included the target. “My personal view is we need to continue to bring immigration down. I want to make sure that we do it in a way that supports businesses, you know we’re ending freedom of movement when we leave the European Union,” she said.

Asked if she agreed with Cabinet colleague Karen Bradley, who said immigration policy was “not about putting numbers on it”, Ms Rudd said: “It’s too early to say. I appreciate you want to push me on this but we are going to have to wait until the manifesto comes out.”

The Home Secretary said she had an “open mind” about proposals for “barista visas” which would allow young European Union citizens to come to work for a limited period in sectors such as hospitality.

But she insisted that firms relying heavily on foreign migrants such as sandwich chain Pret a Manger must recruit more British staff.