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United Kingdom wants government control over migration, not points system: PM spokeswoman

Mrs May, who favoured staying in the European Union but has pledged to deliver on the June 23 referendum vote by steering Britain out of the bloc, said such systems were hard to manage and there was no “silver bullet” on immigration.

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Asked whether immigration controls precluded access to the single market, May said she was optimistic about what sort of deal Britain could negotiate.

“No attempt to delay, frustrate or thwart the will of the British people”.

“A points-based system does not give you that control”, Mrs May said.

The PM, added: “I want a system where the Government is able to decide who comes into the country”. What the British people want to see is an element of control.

Theresa May earlier ruled out the points-based immigration system championed by Brexit campaigners, saying it would not give Britain full control of its borders.

At the weekend, as the G20 summit in China got under way, Japan issued a memo listing demands, including continued trade with no customs duties, and harmonised regulations and standards between the United Kingdom and EU.

May used her first worldwide trip to China this week to outline the first details of what she wants from Brexit after nearly 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the European Union in June.

O’Donnell argued that the government should settle these key questions before triggering Article 50 – which would begin the clock ticking on a two-year period of negotiations. “All of this is going to have to be negotiated with our European partners, but we should go after the best deal we can”. The Japanese government has published a 15-page paper setting out the threats to Japanese companies in Britain if exit terms are too tough.

Asked about her meeting with Mr Abe, she said: “We were both very clear that we will be working together to ensure that we can maintain and build on our relationship. It is a golden era”.

The document, directed at both Britain and the EU, warned that firms are considering moving their European headquarters out of the United Kingdom and said a long period of uncertainty would be damaging.

“In response, Prime Minister May mentioned that she recognizes that the result of the U.K. referendum to leave the European Union is having influence on the global community including Japan, and expressed her hope that the Japan-U.K. economic relationships will be maintained and strengthened”.

Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, regularly expressed support for a points-based system during the referendum campaign as did Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, Priti Patel, the International Development Secretary, Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, and Andrea Leadsom, the Environment Secretary.

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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.

Brexit: May rules out points-based immigration system