Rishi Sunak told reporters on a flight to the G7 summit in Japan, «I really want to reduce legal migration.» ; Credit: Stéphane Rousseau/AP
Rishi Sunak insisted he wanted to cut legal migration as the annual net figure is expected to rise to around 700,000 next week.
However, the prime minister refused do it. promises he will deliver on Boris Johnson's manifesto promise to cut migration below 2019 levels.
Fissures appeared in the cabinet on Wednesday as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said Britain needs to be 'pragmatic' filling a shortage of foreign workers in key industries.
Earlier this week, Home Secretary Swella Braverman used a speech at a prominent Conservative conference to call for the training of more British truck drivers and fruit pickers.
After days of speculation about Downing Street's stance on the legal The prime minister was asked about this during his flight to Japan for the G7 summit.
Mr. Sunak told reporters: “I said that I really want to reduce legal migration.
“I think that illegal migration is undoubtedly a priority for the country and you can see all the work that I put into in it. But for legal migration, we are also looking to bring those numbers down.”
The 2019 election manifesto stated that the end of freedom of movement in the EU and the introduction of an Australian-style points-based immigration system would mean that “total numbers decrease.”
At the time of the promise, the annual net migration was 226,000 people. Official statistics released next month are expected to show that the figure has tripled since then.
1205 UK total net migration
Mr Sunak has been repeatedly pressured to keep the promise manifesto, which was to reduce net migration below 226,000 people. He declined to say it would be a blow.
Mr. Sunak said: “We are also looking to reduce legal migration.
“I really think that most people when it comes to migration is illegal migration and that is crystal clear to me.
“When it comes to legal migration people need to know that we control why people are here, the circumstances and conditions under which they are here, to make sure they contribute to public services such as the National Health Service.
«Now they are all part of our migratory system, and before it was not.»
When asked if he intended to reduce net migration to a quarter of a million people, he replied. : «I inherited some numbers, I want to lower them.»
'We will always be pragmatic'
Earlier in the day, Mr. Hunt proposed that a job shortage list simplifies visa control for certain sectors, can be expanded to allow businesses to «find the workforce they need».
Speaking at the annual conference of the British Chamber of Commerce, Mr Hunt said ministers will be “pragmatic when it comes to immigration requirements.”
He told business leaders: “We will always be pragmatic. For example, we have included nursing homes in the shortage occupations list, some sectors of the construction industry and will continue to communicate with all of you where there are short-term problems.
“What we need to do is tap into the incredible potential we have at home and along the way be sensible and pragmatic about immigration requirements where there is particular pressure.”
Mr Hunt insisted that the government is «totally united» on the need to reduce migration, despite apparent divisions within the cabinet.
Braverman challenges Sunak
The emphasis is different from Ms. Braverman's speech at the National Conference on Conservatism on Monday.
The Home Secretary said: “Brexit allows us to build a highly skilled, high-wage economy that is less dependent on low-skilled foreign labor. This was our 2019 manifesto promise and what we must deliver on.”
Calling on Mr. Sunak to deliver on that promise, Ms. Braverman also said, “We need to bring down the total number of immigrants. And we mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves.»
Michael Gove, secretary for leveling up, downplayed the controversy on Wednesday, saying he «didn't hear anyone express anything.» or, apart from supporting the position of the prime minister and the minister of the interior.”
“I didn’t hear any objections from any of my colleagues about the need to reduce migration and the need to fight illegal migration,” he told Bi- BBC .
«We are all worried about the numbers, but we all agree that the number should be lowered, that we need to exercise more control.»
Mr Gove said that there has been a «blowout» in migration rates this year due to the number of people the UK has taken in from Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.
Свежие комментарии