UK’s May: wants government control on migration, points system open to abuse

“One of the issues is whether or not points-based systems do work but what I’m saying is, the British people… didn’t want the free movement to continue as it has in the past”.

But these campaigns are unlikely to find support in Government where the Prime Minister Theresa May has again this week restated that “Brexit means Brexit” and clarified that this is also likely to include the removal of Freedom of Movement for European Union nationals.

“However, as the PM has said many times in the past, a points-based system will not work and is not an option”.

You really don’t want to ask a former home secretary about the intricacies of points-based systems.

“A points-based system does not give you that control”.

Net migration in the 12 months ending in March 2016 was 327,000 people-down very slightly on the previous year.

“I’ve been very clear that I think we need that period of time, that stability – to be able to deal with the issues that the country is facing and have that election in 2020”.

In a 15-page report published on the eve of a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in China, a Japanese government task force formed to respond to “Brexit” also warned of a possible outflow of drug research and development investment from Britain, though it said it expected the British government to handle its exit from the bloc smoothly.

But she told journalists that exercising greater control did not necessarily mean a points-based system based on skills-based annual quotas. As for May, she is keeping her cards close to her chest, and hasn’t said what sort of system she would favor instead.

“As we forge a new global role for the United Kingdom, we can and will seize the opportunities that Brexit presents and make a success of it”, May said at the Chinese summit earlier Monday.

“Because they met the criteria, they were automatically allowed in”, she said.

“We are going to do everything we can to make sure the consequences of this decision [Brexit] don’t unravel what is already a very strong and robust worldwide relationship”, he said.

May’s plans for immigration policy in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union remained a key discussion point as she traveled to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou to attend the Group of 20 summit.

She said there was no “single silver bullet” which could provide an answer to dealing with immigration.

She went on to refer to securing “an element of control” – which would fall far short of Vote Leave promises and risk a backlash from hardline Brexit supporters.

“We have had some good figures and better figures than some had predicted would be the case”.

Pressed on whether she was tempted to call a snap general election with polls showing she could increase her knife-edge majority to one of 130 seats, Mrs May said: “I’m not going to be calling a snap election”.

Mr Davis, flanked by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, insisted there will be n o attempt to “delay, frustrate or thwart” the will of the British people for the country to leave the EU.