'It's too late' Diane Abbott claims post-Brexit migration from Europe CAN'T be curbed
DIANE ABBOTT has claimed the Conservative’s move to conduct a year-long European Union migration study is too late to curb immigration from the continent.
Diane Abbott claims Tories moved too slowly to curb migration
The shadow home secretary welcomed the news, however, insisted it came too late in the Brexit talks to allow the Government to successfully implement a plan.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd ordered the report on the economic impact of ending free movement rule for EU workers as Britain leaves the EU.
The Migration Advisory Committee, a quango that advises the Government on immigration issues, will deliver its findings in September 2018.
Responding to the news, Ms Abbott told Sky News: “We welcome any facts around EU migration and migration’s contribution to the economy.
Diane Abbott said the Tories have acted too slow to curb post-Brexit migration
It's a bit late to be commissioning a study now, how the Government is going to produce legalisation?
“There is far too much heat and not enough light on migration issues.
“Not only is it a bit late to be commissioning a study now, we wonder how the Government is going to produce legalisation as it has promised to do next year ahead of the findings of their study.”
She also demanded the report must be published once the committee completes its findings, adding: “There must be no repeat of the buried Home Office reports into international students, or the Saudi funding of terrorism
Brandon Lewis: Free movement of labour WILL end in 2019
“And there should be no attempt to reform the immigration system until the report has been published and debated.”
Brandon Lewis, the Immigration Minister, insisted a new immigration system will have to be formulated when Britain departs the EU.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Free movement of labour ends when we leave the European Union in the spring of 2019 – we’re very clear about that.”
Mr Lewis also confirmed that it remained the Government’s “long-term aim” to bring immigration down to “sustainable levels”.
Asked how this would happen, Mr Lewis replied: “If this was an easy thing to do we would have already done it.
“We cannot, people know, control our net migration levels fully until we leave the European Union.”