The PM sparked uproar yesterday when it emerged her post-Brexit plans promised visa-free travel for ‘talented’ EU workers
Furious Tory MPs accused the PM of 'betraying' Leave voters and dumping ‘red lines’ laid down just months ago
THERESA MAY sparked uproar yesterday after her bombshell post-Brexit plans promised visa-free travel for “talented” EU workers.
The PM insisted Brussels hated free movement rules would come to an end.
But details buried in the document revealed the UK would allow tourists, students and business staff to come visa-free on a “temporary” basis.
Sources admitted this could range from six months to as long as three years.
Tory MPs claimed the document also paved the way for migrants to continue to claim generous in-work benefits.
Challenged in the Commons, new Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab was unable to say what system would be in place for nurses or other skilled and low-skilled workers. Migration Watch chair Lord Green stormed: “This immigration chapter is in many respects close to what we suggested but there are some weasel words.
“It’s vital that the UK should not be drawn into a negotiation over numbers.
“Indeed it is not enough to ‘control; the number of migrant workers from the EU. These numbers must be significantly reduced.”
Tory Eurosceptic Iain Duncan Smith demanded to know why the Government had dropped any mention of work permits – let alone visas.
He told the Sun: “My fear is that the detail on immigration is being held back so we can negotiate controls away in a sop to the European Union. That would be an unmitigated disaster.”
Key elements of Mrs May's proposals include:
- An end to free movement, with new "mobility" rules allowing visa-free access instead
- A free trade area in goods
- A "robust" independent panel to decide on disputes, so it is not down to the UK or EU to have the final say
- A formal institutional framework bringing leaders and ministers from both sides together with regular summits
- New arrangements for services, giving each side the freedom to set their own rules
- And continued security co-operation, participation in Europol and a range of EU agencies
The Sun five years ago urged then-PM David Cameron to win back powers to halt unlimited EU immigration –warning voters could otherwise vote to cut ties with Brussels.
Figures two months ago revealed net migration in the year to September was 244,000 –more than double the Government’s 100,000 target.
New Home Secretary Sajid Javid this week signalled the target would be scrapped in the run up to the next Election in 2022.
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