3 in 4 Britons want PM to stick to tough line on migration

THREE QUARTERS of voters want Theresa May to stick to her policy of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands.

She has come under pressure from senior ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Sajid Javid, to soften or even abandon the flagship target.

But the poll released last night shows the policy retains widespread public support, with voters wanting to cut the number of EU migrants after Brexit.

The Delta Poll survey for Channel Four News also reveals that, despite the Windrush scandal, a majority of voters support Mrs May’s policy of making the UK a ‘hostile environment’ for illegal migrants, including almost seven out of ten Tory voters.

Overall 51 per cent of voters said they backed the policy, with 31 per cent saying it should end.

Labour has vowed to tear up immigration controls in the wake of the public outcry over the treatment of some members of the Windrush generation, who wrongly got caught up by controls designed to tackle illegal immigration. And Mr Javid has pledged to stop using the phrase ‘hostile environment’.

Lord Green, chairman of the Migration Watch think-tank, said ministers would be wrong to lower their guard on immigration.

‘These figures confirm that the public are quite clear that they want to see immigration reduced and they want to see firm measures taken against illegal immigrants,’ said the crossbench peer.

‘Clearly, the public have the common sense to recognise that Windrush was an aberration, and that a firm stance against illegal immigration is essential.’

A Whitehall source said the polling showed the PM was more in touch with public opinion than some of her ministers. ‘It is easy to forget the fact that voters make a very big distinction between legal and illegal immigration,’ the source said.

‘Underestimate public concern’

‘People who live pretty comfortable lives in London – the political class included – sometimes forget this and underestimate the level of public concern.’

The new poll shows widespread support for control of the UK’s borders.

Just 15 per cent of voters want the PM to drop the target of cutting immigration to the ‘tens of thousands’, despite consistent failure to meet it since it was introduced in 2010.

And voters are clear that they want ministers to use Brexit to tighten restrictions on the number of people who come to the UK from the EU.

Some 42 per cent of voters said they wanted to see a ‘big reduction’ in EU immigration after Brexit, with another 28 per cent saying they wanted to see a ‘small reduction’.

More than half (57 per cent) believe the UK should let in only EU migrants with specialist skills. Just 22 per cent support the continuation of free movement.

A majority of 55 per cent want a socalled ‘colour blind’ immigration policy after Brexit, which treats all migrants the same, regardless of whether they come from the EU or further afield.

The survey of 2,063 voters also suggests voters are prepared to risk a hit to the economy in order to achieve immigration control.

Asked to prioritise, 61 per cent said it was more important to control numbers in order to reduce the ‘strain’ on public services than to allow people in to fill jobs. Just 30 per cent disagreed.

Support for the tens of thousands target was strongest among the over65s but was found across all age groups. Among those aged 18-24, 55 per cent of voters backed the policy and 31 per cent said it should end.