Sunak refuses to name migration target amid jitters

RISHI Sunak has refused to commit to lowering levels of immigration significantly before the next election.

The Prime Minister yesterday conceded immigration was “too high” – but was unable to pledge to bring levels down by the next nationwide poll which is expected in 2024.And he failed to spell out what he believes is an acceptable level when questioned in Hiroshima, where he is attending the G7 summit.

Earlier this week Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to commit himself to delivering the 2019 Tory manifesto promise to reduce net migration to below its then-level of 226,000 per year.

Yesterday he told BBC News he is “clear” he wants to reduce immigration, but when pressed to what level, he said: “I’m not going to put a precise figure on it, but I do want to bring them down.

“The numbers are too high and we want to bring them down. Now the numbers last year were impacted by the fact that we welcomed Ukrainian refugees to the UK.Again that’s something I think we are proud of.”

He defended the

Government’s record, adding: “When someone comes here we are the ones that decide why they’re here, what they’re doing when they’re here...that they are contributing to the NHS.”

But in a clear dividing line between the two main parties, Labour admitted its plans will push immigration even higher during “a short-term need for skills”.

Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds told Sky News: “In the medium and long term, [we would see] a reduction, because we would be training people up in our own country.

“We’ve not had that under the Conservatives.We’ve got skills shortages and those shortages are not being filled because there’s not the domestic upskilling that needs to be taking place.”

Conservative MPs are growing restless over the increasingly high levels of net migration.A group of them are said to be demanding a meeting with Home Secretary Suella Braverman next week amid concerns voters will abandon the party.