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BREXIT BEGINS

Boris Johnson ‘plans to shut door on low skilled EU migrants two years early’ in Brexit crackdown

BORIS Johnson is planning to introduce new immigration laws on day one after the Brexit transition period ends in 2021, it's been reported.

Under bold plans being drawn up, the PM will bring forward rules to take back control of the numbers of people coming in and out of the country from January 1 next year.

 Boris Johnson is said to be pushing for new immigration laws to come into force on January 1 2021
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Boris Johnson is said to be pushing for new immigration laws to come into force on January 1 2021Credit: Alamy

This would give businesses 12 months to get ready for the new changes, The Sunday Telegraph claimed.

But firms are likely to say they need at least two years to prepare for any new system.

Under Theresa May they had secured assurances that some of them wouldn't come into place for at least two years after Brexit.

Boris has repeatedly said he won't extend the Brexit transition period beyond the end of December - despite Brussels remaining sceptical that a trade deal can be thrashed out by then.

After Britain leaves the EU officially on January 31, Britain will have an 11-month stretch where little will change in practise.

But it will mean that trade talks can finally begin with the US and other countries around the world.

A No10 source told the paper: "We need to deliver change and businesses need to be prepared for uncontrolled migration of low-skilled workers to end this year."

The PM has promised an Australian-style points based system when we leave the EU, but has yet to hammer out the details of what that will look like.

The Migration Advisory Committee are currently exploring different options, and are set to report back to the PM.

During the Tory leadership campaign Boris indicated he would like to see a system where only skilled workers who are needed in certain areas of the economy are allowed to come to the UK.

 The PM has promised an Australian-style points based system when we leave the EU
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The PM has promised an Australian-style points based system when we leave the EUCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Other lower skilled jobs could only allow short-term visas.

A No 10 source said: "As we leave the EU in just over 10 days' time, we have an unprecedented opportunity to change the way our immigration system works.

"There is a clear drive for talented and skilled workers from around the world to come to the UK, but we also need to see a reduction in the number of unskilled workers and those without a job entering the UK and that's why this will be coming to an end when the transition period ends in December."

EU migrants must 'wait 5 years before they get access to benefits' - Tories promise to crackdown on immigration


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