Theresa May set to tell United Nations that Britain has right to control its own borders
Defiant PM to reveal country is entitled to turn away economic migrants posing as refugees and will challenge nations to do more to tackle the biggest humanitarian crisis for a generation
DEFIANT Theresa May will tell world leaders Britain has every right to control its own borders - and turn away economic migrants posing as refugees.
Speaking at the United Nations in New York, the Prime Minister will challenge nations to do more to tackle the biggest humanitarian crisis for a generation.
She will call for the creation of "a first safe country" neighbouring conflict zones where people fleeing war can claim asylum - without risking their life by using people traffickers to reach Europe.
And she will commit more overseas aid to help war ravaged regions.
But in a barnstorming intervention she will tell the UN that far more needs to be done to distinguish between genuine refugees and 'economic migrants' simply after a better life.
Risking the wrath of Labour and charities she will say Britain and other countries have every right to turn away migrants if they want to - saying the current crisis is "undermining" the public's confidence in 'controlled migration'.
The PM will say: "Across the world we are seeing unprecedented levels of population movement and we need to work together to find a better response.
"But we cannot simply focus on treating the symptoms of the crisis, we need to address its root causes too.
"While we must continue our efforts to end conflict, stop persecution and the abuse of human rights, I believe we also need a new, more effective global approach to manage migration."
RELATED STORIES
The blast comes just hours after former Labour leadership contender David Miliband joined calls for Britain to throw open its doors and take in up to 25,000 refugees a year - five times the current level.
It echoes a withering address to the Tory party conference last year, when as Home Secretary, Mrs May said the huge number of economic migrants posing as refugees meant many countries couldn't take in as many people who genuinely needed help.
Figures in July revealed that of 290,000 first time asylum applicants in the EU between January and March, only a third were from Syria, with thousands from Pakistan, Nigeria and Albania.
The rhetoric will delight Brexiteers, but Government sources insist Mrs May's strong words are not aimed at the European Commission ahead of Brexit talks but the UN as a whole.
Downing Street last night said the PM was also set to announce a new overseas aid package later this week designed to help "host" countries flooded with refugees.
Her first visit to the United Nations General Assembly is expected to be dominated by migration - with outgoing UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon chairing a summit on the crisis today.
But the PM is also set to hold a series of crunch meetings with world leaders regarding Britain's post-Brexit future.
Theresa May is expected to meet a host of US investors and entrepreneurs at a reception tonight to bang the drum for British business.