Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she rejected a point-based immigration system backed by Brexit leaders, Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, saying there is “no single silver bullet” for tackling immigration.
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“An immigration system that works for Britain would ensure that the right to decide who comes to the country resides with the government”. European Union leaders have said Britain won’t be able to have full access to the single market after Brexit without also allowing for full freedom of movement.
Even though May voted against Brexit, she has vowed to deliver on the June 23 referendum vote by steering Britain out of the bloc.
As home secretary, Mrs May spent six years struggling but ultimately failing to reduce net migration to below 100,000 a year.
But speaking to reporters this morning on her way to the G20 summit in China, May raised questions over “whether or not points-based systems do work”.
“He recognized the new government would need to take some time before reaching decisions on some agreements pushed by the last government”.
WORCESTER’S MP has defended comments by Theresa May warning against a points-based immigration system – calling it “pretty uncontroversial”.
Mrs May said “people wanted to see. control” and she wanted to “respond to the voice of the British people”.
“Simply, it means the United Kingdom leaving the European Union”.
She has made clear that freedom of movement won’t be allowed to continue.
“But what we haven’t been told is what they’re going to do”.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said a points-based system is “not an option” for Britain after leaving the EU. They enjoy privileged access to EU markets, but only in return for accepting free movement of EU citizens across their borders, and for paying into the EU budget.
“An optimistic tone is not enough and the phrase “Brexit means Brexit” has surely passed its shelf life”, British conservative politician Anna Soubry, who voted to remain in the European Union, told Reuters.
She said: “Whether we were on the side of Remain or Leave, I think we should be on the side of doing things in the interests of the British public. I intend to go out there and be ambitious”.
May’s words will fuel fears among voters and Eurosceptic lawmakers that having a pro-Remain prime minister in charge will result in a watered-down version of Brexit that does not represent what people voted for.
“We want to make sure our regulatory environment helps rather than hinders workers, control numbers and encourages brightest and best to come to this country”.
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“I expect to be able to guarantee their status”.
