Tony Blair's decision in 2004 to open the doors to migrants from Eastern Europe has led to more than one million people from the so-called EU8 - including Poland and Hungary - now working in Britain
THERESA MAY last night vowed to bin preferential treatment for EU migrants as she unveiled a “global” post-Brexit immigration regime.
Settling the 20-year row over free movement, the PM said Britain would take back control of its borders by handing visas out based on skills rather than nationality.
Under the biggest shake up to immigration for years, the PM vowed…
The PM added that migration would be reduced to “sustainable” levels – but there was no specific mention of the tens of thousands target in the Government’s announcement.
The PM said: “Two years ago, the British public voted to leave the European Union and take back control of our borders.
By Nika Shakhnazarova
THERESA May is reportedly planning to agree curbs on trade in an attempt to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations with the EU.
The Prime Minister is preparing to limit Britain’s ability to strike free-trade deals in a significant concession to the EU, The Times reports.
She is apparently ready to propose a “grand bargain”, which would keep Britain tied to European customs rules on goods after the transition period ends in December 2020.
No 10 will claim that the UK has left the customs union at this point, but by keeping key rules the ability to agree trade deals would be curtailed for many years.
Britain is also to accept demands that goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain must meet European standards, with the potential for checks in the Irish Sea.
Downing Street hopes that the concessions will pave the way for a deal on the Irish backstop, which has become a key stumbling block, according to The Times.
If no agreement is reached during the Brexit transition phase, the backstop would take action.
The Brexit transition phase will seek agreement on avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The concession is likely to anger Brexiteers, as they will claim that it amounts to staying in a partial customs union open-endedly.
The arrangement would end only when a mutually acceptable tech solution to the Irish border is found.
This could potentially mean that goods entering Northern Ireland would be electronically tracked to their destination, which consequently will avoid border checks.
“When we leave we will bring in a new immigration system that ends free movement once and for all.
“For the first time in decades, it will be a country that controls and choose who we want to come here”
The pledge came on the eve of a huge stand off at Tory conference - with Boris Johnson due to make his big pitch for how Britain should be run to delegates later today. It follows demands from Brexiteers and campaigners to axe free movement – given the influx of EU migrants since Tony Blair opened the doors to eastern Europe in 2004.
The PM said her new plan would be “fair to ordinary working people”. She added: “For too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration and politicians have not taken their concerns seriously enough.
“The new skills based system will make sure low skilled immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised.”
Just hours earlier, Home Secretary Sajid Javid gave a glimpse of the system to delegates at a fringe meeting. He said the new system would be based on a person’s skill rather than nationality.
And he called on business to wean itself of the “endless supply” of cheap EU labour – claiming it has hit wage growth for Brits.
Speaking on the eve of his Tory conference today, he told The Sun: “Sun readers will be very happy.
“We are taking back control.”
Speaking at the Spectator fringe meeting he said: “It’s not nationality that gives you any particular skills.
“We shouldn’t have a system that favours one nationality over another.”
He added: “We will remain a country that is open to the brightest and the best from around the world.
“But what we have seen because of freedom of movement is that there has been a huge chunk of our immigration system we have had no control over.
“Now we are leaving I feel very privileged to have a unique opportunity to be the first Home Secretary in decades to design an immigration system that falls under our complete control – and meets our national interest.”
Mr Javid gave a glimpse of his own ambitions by saying the experience of Singapore – where he worked for three years – proved a country didn’t need trade deals with countries to thrive.
And challenged how he would spend the £40 billion earmarked for the EU in the event of a No Deal, the Home Secretary said he’d give it back to the British people – “they’re taxed enough”.
In today’s speech Mr Javid will separately announce a major review of drugs misuse in the country – specifically looking whether drug use by the Middle Classes is fuelling the crime wave and ‘county lines’ phenomenon. The Home Secretary will also confirm plans to launch £200 million fund to tackle violent crime hotspots – and to mandate public bodies such as health and education to play a bigger role in tackling the root causes of serious violence.
