This deal lets us take back control of our borders

It will be an immigration system designed in Britain, made in Britain and serving only our national interest

There were many reasons why the British people voted to leave the European Union in 2016, but one of the defining factors was the ability to choose who can and cannot come to our country. This was a clear message and one that must be respected in negotiating a successful Brexit.

The deal that the Prime Minister reached this week delivers on that promise. On the one hand it guarantees the rights of the many EU citizens who live and work in Britain and contribute to our society. But it also enables us, for the first time in generations, to take back control of our borders.

We have an incredible opportunity to create an immigration system without being constrained by the EU, and to ensure that it works in the national interest. People wanted control over immigration. As Home Secretary, it is my job to make sure that is what they will get. And I am resolute in that commitment. It will be an immigration system designed in Britain, made in Britain and serving only our national interest.

I’m also clear that it must be a system that is based on evidence and listens to the needs of our economy. This is why we commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to report on the economic impact of EU workers. In addition to this we have been listening and engaging with businesses up and down the country to hear their views, concerns and ideas. We have considered that advice and we will be setting out our proposals very shortly in the form of a White Paper.

There will also be an Immigration Bill, which will be a watershed moment; delivering on our promise: a complete end to freedom of movement.

The message from the referendum was never that we should turn our back on our values as an open and outward-looking country. Immigration has been good for Britain – it has made us a global hub for culture, business and travel and has boosted our economy in countless ways. This is why, throughout the process, our number one priority has been to guarantee the rights of EU citizens already living here. They are part of our country, our families and our home. The Settlement Scheme, which will be fully open by March 2019, received excellent user feedback from the first pilot and will make it quick and easy for people to get the status they need to continue living their lives here. The Withdrawal Agreement ensures that there will be plenty of time for people to apply, with the deadline not until the end of June 2021. And, even in a no-deal situation, we will continue to guarantee the rights of the EU citizens already living here.

We also want to continue to welcome people from any country in the world that will contribute to our society and to our economy. It will be a single skills-based system, open to talent from across the world. It will not discriminate between any one region or country, but will be about what that person can offer to Britain.

Our future system will be flexible so that the trade deals we agree – with the EU and around the world – can allow businesses to provide services and move existing staff between offices in different countries, supporting our dynamic economy. We have already started to make changes that will make it easier for international travellers. In the Budget we announced that we will be expanding ePassport-gates to eligible travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, providing an automated route through the border for up to six million travellers. We want to encourage people who boost our economy through tourism and business to travel to the UK, while at the same time maintaining border security.

Our immigration system must be one that is tailored towards supporting and giving preferential treatment to the highly skilled workers our economy needs, putting our future system as part of a wider picture of encouraging businesses in increasing their investment in people and training. It will also need to work with businesses so that they can adapt and play their part in increasing the skills base of our people.

Free movement has – when it comes to lower-skilled jobs – sometimes encouraged business to look abroad for foreign workers, instead of raising wages or productivity. Under our revised system, that will end.

This is the start of a new conversation on immigration. All of what I have outlined is possible with the deal that we have reached with the EU. It gives us back complete control and, most importantly, gives us the opportunity to shape our immigration policy to work for our country.